▪ I. chere
obs. f. chare n.1, cheer and cherry.
▪ II. † chere, a. Obs.
Forms: 3–5 chere, 4–5 cher, cheere, (5 chier).
[a. F. cher, chère dear, OF. chier:—L. cār-um dear. (In sense 2, there was evidently confusion with chary.)]
1. Dear. a. Of persons. Also as n.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 166 Þe chere men of lond. 1382 Wyclif Prov. v. 19 A most cheere hynde and a most kindeli hert calf. c 1400 Destr. Troy xxi. 8629. ? a 1400 Arthur 306 Þis was a worthy chere. c 1450 Lonelich Grail. xlvi. 448 My brothir dere..of alle othere to me most chere. |
b. Of things: Precious, valuable, goodly, etc.
| c 1320 R. Brunne Medit. 203 No þyng more profytable, ne more chere. c 1400 Destr. Troy 4513 Achilles the choise was in the chere temple. |
2. Loving, fond, careful (over). Cf. chary.
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C xviii. 148 Þat is charite, my leue childe, to be cher ouer thi soule. 1496 Dives & Paup. (W. de W.) x. iii. 373/2 A pellycane, & of al foules he is moost chere ouer his byrdes and moost loueth them. |