darling

• darlin' (informal)
• dearling

From Middle English derelyng, from Old English dīerling (“darling, favorite, minion; also household god”), corresponding to dear +‎ -ling.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈdɑːlɪŋ/
• (General American) enPR: där'lĭng, IPA^(key): /ˈdɑɹlɪŋ/

• Audio (US)

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• Homophone: Darling
• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)lɪŋ

darling (plural darlings)

1. A person who is dear to one.

   Mary, the youngest daughter, was always her mother's darling.

   • 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:

     But Richmond, his grandfather's darling, after one thoughtful glance cast under his lashes at that uncompromising countenance appeared to lose himself in his own reflections.

2. A kind or sweet person; sweetheart.

   The girl next door picks up all my shopping for me. She is such a darling.

3. An affectionate term of address.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:sweetheart

   Pass the wine, would you, darling?

   • 1969, Paul McCartney (lyrics and music), “Oh! Darling”, in Abbey Road, performed by The Beatles:

     Oh! Darling, please believe me / I'll never do you no harm

   • 1972, Joni Mitchell (lyrics and music), “A Case of You”, in Blue:

     Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling / Still I'd be on my feet

4. (by extension) A person or thing very popular with a certain group.

   a media darling

   a darling of the theatre

   • 2011 December 15, Felicity Cloake, “How to cook the perfect nut roast”, in Guardian‎:

     One of the darlings of the early vegetarian movement (particularly in its even sadder form, the cutlet), it was on the menu at John Harvey Kellogg's Battle Creek Sanitarium^[sic], and has since become the default Sunday option for vegetarians – and a default source of derision for everyone else.

• darlinghood
• kill one's darlings
• media darling

darling (comparative darlinger, superlative darlingest)

1. Dear; cherished.

   She is my darling wife of twenty-two years.

2. charming

   Well isn't that a darling little outfit she has on.

darlinger is rarely used.

• Lingard, larding