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Word of the Day : May 12, 2019 </span>
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<h1>darling</h1>
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<span class="main-attr">noun</span>
<!--<span class="word-syllables">fru <span class="dot"></span> gal</span>-->
<span class="word-syllables">DAHR-ling</span>
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<h2>Definition</h2>
<p><strong>1 :</strong> a dearly loved person</p>
<p><strong>2 :</strong> <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/favorite">favorite</a></p>
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<p>The origins of <em>darling</em> can be found in the very heart of the English language, and examples of its use are found in Old English writings from the 9th century. The Old English <em>dēorling</em> was formed by attaching the Old English suffix <em><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/-ling#h3">-ling</a></em> ("one associated with or marked by a specified quality") with the adjective <em>dēore</em>, the ancestor of our adjective <em><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dear">dear</a></em> ("regarded very affectionately or fondly," "highly valued or esteemed," "beloved"). English speakers appear to have developed a fondness for <em>darling</em> and have held on to it for well over a thousand years now. And though its spelling has changed over time—including variations such as <em>dyrling</em>, <em>derlinge</em>, and <em>dearling</em>—<em>darling</em> has maintained its original sense of "one dearly loved."</p>
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<p>The youngest of three children, he was always his parents' little <em>darling</em>.</p>
<p>"Once reticent to share anything about herself with fans and the media, thinking it was cooler to be mysterious, the critical <em>darling</em> and dance world entrepreneur is now open and forthright…." — Katie Bain, <em>Billboard.com</em>, 28 Mar. 2019</p>
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<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/news-trend-watch/cnn-trump-congress-confrontation-goes-to-defcon-1-20190508">
<span class="tw-module-headword">
DEFCON </span>
<span class="tw-module-teaser">
CNN describes Trump-Congress confrontation </span>
</a>
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<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/news-trend-watch/met-begins-camp-notes-on-fashion-20190506">
<span class="tw-module-headword">
camp </span>
<span class="tw-module-teaser">
Celebs arrive at the 2019 Met Gala </span>
</a>
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<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/news-trend-watch/see-all">SEE ALL</a>
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<span class="items__header">Words at Play</span>
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<li>
<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-words-of-the-week-may-10-2019">
<span class="lazyload-container ratio-3-2"><img data-sizes="auto" alt="alt-5cd5c26ecd414" is_retina="true" data-src="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/article/art-global-footer-recirc/alt-5cd5c26ecd414-6465-a6b8f3b5e834e448c667eb70bb7a7d2c@1x.jpg" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-type="article" data-dim="art-global-footer-recirc" data-ret-pref="alt-5cd5c26ecd414-6465-a6b8f3b5e834e448c667eb70bb7a7d2c" data-ret-x="1" data-srcset="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/article/art-global-footer-recirc/alt-5cd5c26ecd414-6465-a6b8f3b5e834e448c667eb70bb7a7d2c@1x.jpg 1x, //www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/article/art-global-footer-recirc/alt-5cd5c26ecd414-6465-a6b8f3b5e834e448c667eb70bb7a7d2c@2x.jpg 2x" pair-id="6467" image-id="6465" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="/></span> </a>
<span class="item__title"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-words-of-the-week-may-10-2019">The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 5/10/19</a></span>
<p class="mell-gr235"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-words-of-the-week-may-10-2019">Words from the week of 5/10/2019</a></p>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/demur-and-demure">
<span class="lazyload-container ratio-3-2"><img data-sizes="auto" alt="alt-5cd5a25c25af1" is_retina="true" data-src="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/article/art-global-footer-recirc/alt-5cd5a25c25af1-6464-0a2e4dc894b4fdcb30aab0c15faec75c@1x.jpg" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-type="article" data-dim="art-global-footer-recirc" data-ret-pref="alt-5cd5a25c25af1-6464-0a2e4dc894b4fdcb30aab0c15faec75c" data-ret-x="1" data-srcset="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/article/art-global-footer-recirc/alt-5cd5a25c25af1-6464-0a2e4dc894b4fdcb30aab0c15faec75c@1x.jpg 1x, //www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/article/art-global-footer-recirc/alt-5cd5a25c25af1-6464-0a2e4dc894b4fdcb30aab0c15faec75c@2x.jpg 2x" pair-id="6466" image-id="6464" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="/></span> </a>
<span class="item__title"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/demur-and-demure">'Demur' and 'Demure': Not to be Confused</a></span>
<p class="mell-gr235"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/demur-and-demure">Don't be demure about using 'demur' and 'demure'</a></p>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/teach-em-or-learn-em">
<span class="lazyload-container ratio-3-2"><img data-sizes="auto" alt="alt-5cd433048c653" is_retina="true" data-src="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/article/art-global-footer-recirc/alt-5cd433048c653-6462-12dd34b9f1fec2dc6e439c1c788bfdf6@1x.jpg" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-type="article" data-dim="art-global-footer-recirc" data-ret-pref="alt-5cd433048c653-6462-12dd34b9f1fec2dc6e439c1c788bfdf6" data-ret-x="1" data-srcset="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/article/art-global-footer-recirc/alt-5cd433048c653-6462-12dd34b9f1fec2dc6e439c1c788bfdf6@1x.jpg 1x, //www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/article/art-global-footer-recirc/alt-5cd433048c653-6462-12dd34b9f1fec2dc6e439c1c788bfdf6@2x.jpg 2x" pair-id="6464" image-id="6462" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="/></span> </a>
<span class="item__title"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/teach-em-or-learn-em">'Teach 'em' or 'Learn 'em'?</a></span>
<p class="mell-gr235"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/teach-em-or-learn-em">When did 'learn' stop meaning "to teach?"</a></p>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/words-were-watching-ambigram">
<span class="lazyload-container ratio-3-2"><img data-sizes="auto" alt="ambigram of the word yeah" is_retina="true" data-src="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/article/art-global-footer-recirc/ambigram-of-the-word-yeah-6460-bec5f4bd91ea281d7616c70d898fb38e@1x.jpg" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-type="article" data-dim="art-global-footer-recirc" data-ret-pref="ambigram-of-the-word-yeah-6460-bec5f4bd91ea281d7616c70d898fb38e" data-ret-x="1" data-srcset="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/article/art-global-footer-recirc/ambigram-of-the-word-yeah-6460-bec5f4bd91ea281d7616c70d898fb38e@1x.jpg 1x, //www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/article/art-global-footer-recirc/ambigram-of-the-word-yeah-6460-bec5f4bd91ea281d7616c70d898fb38e@2x.jpg 2x" pair-id="6462" image-id="6460" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="/></span> </a>
<span class="item__title"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/words-were-watching-ambigram">Words We're Watching: 'Ambigram'</a></span>
<p class="mell-gr235"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/words-were-watching-ambigram">There's more than one way to see it.</a></p>
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<span class="items__header">Ask the Editors</span>
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/contractions-with-more-than-two-or-three-words-triple-contractions">
<span class="lazyload-container ratio-3-2"><img data-sizes="auto" alt="contractions" is_retina="true" data-src="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/video/vid-global-footer-recirc/contractions-6218-27fb55493c33d5668b9647284d70edea@1x.jpg" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-type="video" data-dim="vid-global-footer-recirc" data-ret-pref="contractions-6218-27fb55493c33d5668b9647284d70edea" data-ret-x="1" data-srcset="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/video/vid-global-footer-recirc/contractions-6218-27fb55493c33d5668b9647284d70edea@1x.jpg 1x, //www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/video/vid-global-footer-recirc/contractions-6218-27fb55493c33d5668b9647284d70edea@2x.jpg 2x" pair-id="6220" image-id="6218" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="/></span> </a>
<span class="item__title"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/contractions-with-more-than-two-or-three-words-triple-contractions"">On Contractions of Multiple Words</a></span>
<p class="mell-gr235"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/contractions-with-more-than-two-or-three-words-triple-contractions"">You all would not have guessed some of these</a></p>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/uncommon-and-surprising-onomatopoeia-words">
<span class="lazyload-container ratio-3-2"><img data-sizes="auto" alt="onomatopoeia video" is_retina="true" data-src="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/video/vid-global-footer-recirc/onomatopoeia-video-6226-211e07a136a98272adf11dfbe7177d15@1x.jpg" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-type="video" data-dim="vid-global-footer-recirc" data-ret-pref="onomatopoeia-video-6226-211e07a136a98272adf11dfbe7177d15" data-ret-x="1" data-srcset="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/video/vid-global-footer-recirc/onomatopoeia-video-6226-211e07a136a98272adf11dfbe7177d15@1x.jpg 1x, //www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/video/vid-global-footer-recirc/onomatopoeia-video-6226-211e07a136a98272adf11dfbe7177d15@2x.jpg 2x" pair-id="6228" image-id="6226" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="/></span> </a>
<span class="item__title"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/uncommon-and-surprising-onomatopoeia-words"">A Look at Uncommon Onomatopoeia</a></span>
<p class="mell-gr235"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/uncommon-and-surprising-onomatopoeia-words"">Some imitative words are more surprising than others </a></p>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/literally">
<span class="lazyload-container ratio-3-2"><img data-sizes="auto" alt="video literally" is_retina="true" data-src="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/video/vid-global-footer-recirc/video-literally-1143@1x.jpg" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-type="video" data-dim="vid-global-footer-recirc" data-ret-pref="video-literally-1143" data-ret-x="1" data-srcset="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/video/vid-global-footer-recirc/video-literally-1143@1x.jpg 1x, //www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/video/vid-global-footer-recirc/video-literally-1143@2x.jpg 2x" pair-id="1145" image-id="1143" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="/></span> </a>
<span class="item__title"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/literally"">Literally</a></span>
<p class="mell-gr235"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/literally"">How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.</a></p>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/the-awkward-case-of-his-or-her">
<span class="lazyload-container ratio-3-2"><img data-sizes="auto" alt="video his or her" is_retina="true" data-src="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/video/vid-global-footer-recirc/video-his-or-her-1148@1x.jpg" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-type="video" data-dim="vid-global-footer-recirc" data-ret-pref="video-his-or-her-1148" data-ret-x="1" data-srcset="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/video/vid-global-footer-recirc/video-his-or-her-1148@1x.jpg 1x, //www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/video/vid-global-footer-recirc/video-his-or-her-1148@2x.jpg 2x" pair-id="1150" image-id="1148" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="/></span> </a>
<span class="item__title"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/the-awkward-case-of-his-or-her"">Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?</a></span>
<p class="mell-gr235"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/video/the-awkward-case-of-his-or-her"">The awkward case of 'his or her'</a></p>
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<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/words-that-have-changed-meaning-quiz"><span class="lazyload-container ratio-3-2"><img data-sizes="auto" alt="ducreux self portrait yawning" is_retina="true" data-src="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/quiz/quiz-global-footer-recirc/ducreux-self-portrait-yawning-3447-10ad12af01045a23efdfd3f570858875@1x.jpg" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-type="quiz" data-dim="quiz-global-footer-recirc" data-ret-pref="ducreux-self-portrait-yawning-3447-10ad12af01045a23efdfd3f570858875" data-ret-x="1" data-srcset="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/quiz/quiz-global-footer-recirc/ducreux-self-portrait-yawning-3447-10ad12af01045a23efdfd3f570858875@1x.jpg 1x, //www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/quiz/quiz-global-footer-recirc/ducreux-self-portrait-yawning-3447-10ad12af01045a23efdfd3f570858875@2x.jpg 2x" pair-id="3450" image-id="3447" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="/></span></a>
<span class="item__title"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/words-that-have-changed-meaning-quiz">Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times</a></span>
<p class="mell-gr235"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/words-that-have-changed-meaning-quiz">Do you know these earlier meanings of words?</a></p>
<a class="quiz-link" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/words-that-have-changed-meaning-quiz">Take the quiz</a>
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<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/ntt-flowers-quiz"><span class="lazyload-container ratio-3-2"><img data-sizes="auto" alt="name that thing flower edition" is_retina="true" data-src="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/quiz/quiz-global-footer-recirc/name-that-thing-flower-edition-3542-b88e6d7ab849c9cb80a115d49a1c7506@1x.jpg" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-type="quiz" data-dim="quiz-global-footer-recirc" data-ret-pref="name-that-thing-flower-edition-3542-b88e6d7ab849c9cb80a115d49a1c7506" data-ret-x="1" data-srcset="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/quiz/quiz-global-footer-recirc/name-that-thing-flower-edition-3542-b88e6d7ab849c9cb80a115d49a1c7506@1x.jpg 1x, //www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/images/quiz/quiz-global-footer-recirc/name-that-thing-flower-edition-3542-b88e6d7ab849c9cb80a115d49a1c7506@2x.jpg 2x" pair-id="3545" image-id="3542" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="/></span></a>
<span class="item__title"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/ntt-flowers-quiz">Name that Thing: Flower Edition</a></span>
<p class="mell-gr235"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/ntt-flowers-quiz">Can you correctly identify these flowers?</a></p>
<a class="quiz-link" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/ntt-flowers-quiz">Take the quiz</a>
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<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/true-or-false"><span class="lazyload-container ratio-3-2"><img data-sizes="auto" alt="True or False" data-src="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/static/images/old-quizzes/true-or-false/261x174@1x.jpg" data-dim="261x174" data-srcset="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/static/images/old-quizzes/true-or-false/261x174@1x.jpg 1x, //www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/static/images/old-quizzes/true-or-false/261x174@2x.jpg 2x" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="/></span></a>
<span class="item__title"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/true-or-false">True or False?</a></span>
<p class="mell-gr235"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/true-or-false">Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.</a></p>
<a class="quiz-link" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/true-or-false">Take the quiz</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/syn-city"><span class="lazyload-container ratio-3-2"><img data-sizes="auto" alt="Syn City" data-src="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/static/images/games/special5/syn-city/261x174@1x.jpg" data-srcset="//www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/static/images/games/special5/syn-city/261x174@1x.jpg 1x, //www.merriam-webster.com/assets/mw/static/images/games/special5/syn-city/261x174@2x.jpg 2x" data-dim="261x174" class="lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="></span></a>
<span class="item__title"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/syn-city">Syn City</a></span>
<p class="mell-gr235"><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/syn-city">Build a city of skyscrapers—one synonym at a time.</a></p>
<a class="quiz-link" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/word-games/syn-city">Play the game</a>
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