beloved

Etymology

From Middle English beloved, biloved, equivalent to belove + -ed.

adj

1. Much loved, dearly loved.
   The vacuum brake, much beloved by English- (though not Scottish-) built or inspired railways, but little favoured elsewhere. 1964 March, “Train braking - the next steps”, in Modern Railways, page 186
   In yonder corner your little chair, / where you often sat at my knee, / singing your sweet murmuring hymns, / my belovèd child! 2014, Niall MacLeòid, “The Death of the Widow's Child”, in Meg Bateman, Anne Loughran, editors, Bàird Ghleann Dail = The Glendale Bards: A Selection of Songs and Poems by Niall MacLeòid (1843–1913), ‘The Bard of Skye’, His Brother Ian Dubh (1847–1901) and Their Father Dòmhnall nan Òran (c. 1787–1873), Edinburgh: John Donald, verse 4

noun

1. Someone who is loved; something that is loved.
   […] Chriſtian, with deſire fell ſick, Hopeful alſo had a fit or two of the ſame Diſeaſe: Wherefore, here they lay by it a while, crying out, becauſe of their pangs, If ye ſee my Beloved, tell him that I am ſick of love. 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: Delivered under the Similitude of a Dream wherein is Discovered, the Manner of His Setting out, His Dangerous Journey; and Safe Arrival at the Desired Countrey, London: Printed for Nath. Ponder at the Peacock in the Poultrey near Cornhil, →OCLC, page 219
   Near and dear relations are the only beloveds of others, as parents, children, &c. They set their affections so much on these, that Christ has little or no share in them: […] Christ is preferable to all such beloveds, and indeed to any creature-enjoyment whatever. 1854, John Gill, An Exposition of the Book of Solomon's Song; Commonly Called Canticles. Wherein the Authority of it is Established and Vindicated against Objections, Both Ancient and Modern; Several Versions Compared with the Original Text; the Different Senses both of Jewish and Christian Interpreters Considered; and the Whole Opened and Explained in Proper and Useful Observations, London: William Hill Collingridge, Long Lane, Aldersgate Street, →OCLC, page 206, column 2
   Beyond the smiths were the bookshops, supplying for the intellect the enchantment that the smith supplied for the eye. The standard assortment was there, but the most desired were books of philosophy and poetry to help the soul either weep or sing, and songs for the heart to sing of the beloved. 1988, Harriet Ronken Lynton, Mohini Rajan, “The City”, in The Days of the Beloved, 2nd edition, New Delhi: Orient Longman, page 7

verb

1. (obsolete) simple past and past participle of belove.
   Dearly beloved in the Lord, ye coming to his holy Communion, must consider what St. Paul writeth to the Corinthians, how he exhorteth all persons diligently to try and examine themselves, or ever they presume to eat of this bread, and drink of this Cup: […] 1547, The Order of the Communion. With the Kings Majesties Proclamation, London: Imprinted … by Richard Grafton, →OCLC, page 4
   He William Russell, Lord Russell] was a man of great candour and of a general reputation, univerſally beloved and truſted; of a generous and obliging temper. 1747, Thomas Birch, “William Lord Russel”, in The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, Engraven by Mr. [Jacobus] Houbraken, and Mr. [George] Vertue. With Their Lives and Characters, volume I, London: Printed for John and Paul Knapton, →OCLC, page 124
   [B]eing a plain and honeſt-minded man, […] he Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox] loſt the favour of the French king in a ſhort time; and, when he could neither continue at home, nor return into France, he came into England, and ſubmitted himſelf to Henry VIII, who accepted him as a man well-beloved in the weſt borders, and acknowledged him as next heir to the crown of Scotland, after Mary then an infant, […] 1760, Delahay Gordon, “The Life and Death of Mary Queen of Scots”, in A General History of the Lives, Trials, and Executions of All the Royal and Noble Personages, that have Suffered in Great-Britain and Ireland for High Treason, or Other Crimes, from the Accession of Henry VIII. to the Throne of England, down to the Present Time; …, volume II, London: Printed for J. Burd, opposite St. Dunstan's Church, Fleet-Street, →OCLC, page 108
   With auburn locks and killing eyes, / A laſs tripp'd o'er the mead. / The day declin'd; soft blush'd the skies, / And warblings fill'd the glade. / I nought but her could hear and see.— / Belov'd, I swear, the maid shall be, / Forever and for aye by me! 1800, Schultz, [Benjamin Beresford, translator], “The Wooer”, in A Collection of German Ballads and Songs with Their Original Music, Done into English, 2nd edition, Berlin: [Printed by G. F. Starke and] sold by H. Frölich, and by Messieurs Baumgärtners, Leipsic, →OCLC, stanza I, page 29