darling

¹

[ dahr-ling ]

noun

1. a person very dear to another; one dearly loved.
2. (sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address.
3. a person or thing in great favor; a favorite:

   She was the darling of caf é society.

adjective

1. very dear; dearly loved:

   my darling child.

2. favorite; cherished.
3. Informal. charming; cute; lovable:

   What a darling baby!

Darling

²

[ dahr-ling ]

noun

1. Jay Nor·wood [nawr, -w, oo, d], Ding, 1876–1962, U.S. political cartoonist.

Darling

¹

/ ˈdɑːlɪŋ /

noun

1. DarlingGrace18151842FEnglishPOLITICS: national heroine Grace. 1815–42, English national heroine, famous for her rescue (1838) of some shipwrecked sailors with her father, a lighthouse keeper

darling

²

/ ˈdɑːlɪŋ /

noun

1. a person very much loved: often used as a term of address
2. a favourite

   the teacher's darling

adjective

1. beloved
2. much admired; pleasing

   a darling hat

Other Words From

• darling·ly adverb
• darling·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of darling¹

before 900; Middle English derling, Old English dēorling. See dear ¹, -ling ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of darling¹

Old English dēorling; see dear , -ling ¹

Example Sentences

He went on to become a darling of Conservative politics in the 1990s, and became the party's leader in 1997 - at the age of just 36.

From BBC

The YouTube edgelords-turned-GOP darlings had made it to the inner sanctum.

From Salon

In her golden years, White appeared in a Super Bowl commercial, hosted “Saturday Night Live” and became a social media darling with a new audience of young fans.

From Los Angeles Times

Rep. Adam B. Schiff is a darling of the Democrats, a fighter and political veteran accustomed to the limelight on Sunday talk shows and on the House floor.

From Los Angeles Times

The Tartan Army will bid it good riddance while, at the same time, heralding the arrival of a new darling.

From BBC