Also 7–8 indearment. [f. ENDEAR v. + -MENT.]
1. The action of endearing or the fact of being endeared; concr. something that endears, that excites or increases affection.
1663. Aron-bimn., 3. The Object of all this Care, this Indeerment and joy, is the Ark of God.
1673. Ladies Call., II. 63. One of the greatest endearments of Abraham to God.
1683. H. Wharton, Enthus. Ch. Rome, 78. The belief of his endearment to God, made him often presume upon the Favour of Heaven.
1690. Norris, Beatitudes (1694), I. 202. The Heathen, to whom the Unity and Agreement of the First Christians was a great indearment.
1881. P. Brooks, Candle of Lord, 164. The enlargement of the faith brings the endearment of the faith.
† b. An obligation of gratitude, a bond of attachment. Cf. ENDEAR v. 6 b. Obs.
1628. Earle, Microcosm., World’s wise man (Arb.), 61. His deepest indearment is a communication of mischiefe.
1676. Hale, Contempl., II. 72–3. That Lust … which the … Saviour, upon the Indearment of his own Blood, begs us to Crucifie.
2. An action or utterance expressive of love or fondness; a caress. Also abstr.
1702. Rowe, Tamerl., I. i. 341. Are War and Slavery the soft Endearments With which they court the Beauties they admire?
1742. Richardson, Pamela, IV. 141. His Indearments and Tenderness to his Lady … was alone worthy of all her Risque.
1853. C. Brontë, Villette, xxxvi. (1876), 401. M. Paul petted and patted her; the endearments she received were not to be wondered at.
1867. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. iv. 180. A mere name of endearment.
† 3. Affection, fondness. Obs.
1709. Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xliii. 440. Between these two there was a long and great Endearment.
1746–7. Hervey, Medit. (1818), 19. If you really love the offspring of your own bodies; if your bowels yearn over those amiable pledges of conjugal endearment.
1821. Clare, Vill. Minstr., I. 60. Travellers returned from foreign ground feel more endearments for their native earth.
4. The making (a commodity) dearer. rare.
1864. Guardian, 21 Dec., 1218. People bought in provisions against the endearments of Sella’s new tariffs.
† 5. The action of enhancing the value of anything; also, praise, exaggeration. Obs.
1612. Shelton, Quix., I. III. xiii. 249. It is rather a poetical Endearment, than an approv’d Truth.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb. (1702), I. II. 113. If his condition before were so good that it needed no endearment.
