v. Also α. 7 endeere, -deare; β. 7 indear, indeere. [f. EN-1 + DEAR a.]
† 1. trans. To render costly or more costly; to enhance the price of. Obs.
α. 1603. Florio, Montaigne, 523. Enhancing the price of the place we raise the price and endeare the desire.
1618. K. James’s Procl. conc. Buildings, in Rymer (1717), XVII. 107. All Victualls and other Provision endeared.
1803. Ann. Rev., I. 390. Bread … would be cheapened by the competition, not endeared by the combination of bakers.
β. 1729. Seasonable Remarks Trade, 11. There are several Accidents which indear a Commodity to the Merchant.
† 2. To enhance the value of; to render precious or attractive. Obs.
α. 1580. Sidney, Arcadia, II. (1590), 134 b. He would endeare his owne seruice.
1594. Southwell, M. Magd. Fun. Teares, 92. Love … endeareth the meanest things, and doubleth the estimate of things that are precious.
1657. J. Smith, Myst. Rhet., 184. Her wit endeared by youth, her affection by birth, and her sadnesse by her beauty.
a. 1662. Heylin, Laud, I. (1671), 209. All those several motives which might not only serve to justifie, but endear the work.
β. 1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 103. Making a Bodie of Forces of themselues, the more to indeare their merite.
1672. Dryden, Marr. a-la-Mode, I. IV. i. Dram. Wks. 1725, III. 267. ’Tis as Physicians show the desperate Ill T’ indear their Art, by mitigating Pains They cannot wholly cure.
† b. To represent as valuable or important, to lay stress upon; also, to exaggerate Obs.
1620. Shelton, Quix., III. xvii. 113. I must leave them here abruptly, since I want words to endear them.
1622. Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 97. May (without indearing) be truly said to be a princely and royall seat.
1656. Cowley, Davideis, IV. (1710), II. 443. Not that I’d clear Their Guilt, or mine own Innocence indear.
1661. Howell, Twelve Sev. Treat., 215. In all his declarations ther was nothing that he endear’d and inculcated more often.
3. To render (a person) dear to another; to inspire or create affection for (a person or thing). (The modern sense.) Also const. † with.
α. 1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1702), I. II. 121. His Majesty exceedingly desired to endear her to the People.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), II. xxxiii. 218. She endeared herself to me ten times more by her soothing concern for me.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., II. xxvii. 56. His gentle and amiable disposition endeared him to his private friends.
1821. Byron, Juan, IV. xvi. That which destroys Most love, possession, unto them appear’d A thing which each endearment more endear’d.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Relig., Wks. (Bohn), II. 98. It [the Church] endears itself thus to men of more taste than activity.
1879. C. Geikie, Christ, lxiv. 809. One endeared by long companionship.
β. 1611. L. Barry, Ram Alley, in Dodsley, Old Pl. (1780), V. 444. Stand thou propitious, indear me to my love.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1702), I. II. 113. To endear himself with that Nation.
† 4. To hold dear; to love. Obs.
1622. Wither, Lines, in Farr’s, S. P. Jas. I. (1848), 221. But to my heart they sit this day as neare As when I most endear’d them.
1639. Saltmarsh, Pract. Policie, 20. Something he endeares.
a. 1711. Ken, Sion, Wks. 1721, IV. 375. God … most amiable appear’d, Endearing most, and most to be endear’d.
† 5. To treat affectionately or fondly; to caress. Obs. Cf. ENDEARING ppl. a.
1683. Lorrain, trans. Muret’s Rites Funeral, 161. Embraced, hug’d, caressed, endeared and applauded by all the spectators.
† 6. To win the affection of; to conciliate, attract. Also, to deepen (affection). Obs.
1580. Sidney, Arcadia (1622), 247. Leauing no office vnperformed, which might either witnesse, or endeare her sonnes affection.
1628. Earle, Microcosm., Weak Man (Arb.), 58. You cannot endeare him more then by coozening him.
a. 1631. Donne, Poems, etc. (1633), 354. Not that God is endeared by that, or wearied by this.
1671. Milton, Samson, 793. I sought by all means, therefore, How to endear … thee to me firmest.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Sat. agst. Woman, Wks. 1730, I. 57. No law can bind them, and no love endear.
1704. Hearne, Duct. Hist. (1714), I. 390. This generous Act endeared the People … to him.
† b. To bind by obligations of gratitude. Sometimes Const. to with inf. Obs.
α. 1607. Shaks., Timon, III. ii. 35. I am so much endeered to that Lord; hee’s euer sending.
1626. T. H[awkins], trans. Caussin’s Holy Crt., 81. He must … frugally endeare Auditors,… dissemble with his enemyes.
1652. J. Wadsworth, trans. Sandoval’s Civ. Wars Spain, 21. To endeer the Elector of Brandenburg the more to vote in his behalf. Ibid., 280. They gave them ten daies paie more to endear them to go before Tordesillas.
1654. trans. Scudery’s Curia Politiæ, 107. Whereby the House of Lancaster … hath for ever indeared, and obliged the House of York.
β. 1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Indeere, make bound to one.
1633. G. Herbert, Temple, Ch. Militant, 12. Early didst thou arise to plant this vine, which might the more indeare it to be thine.
