Etymology From Middle English beloved, biloved, equivalent to belove + -ed.
1
Much loved, dearly loved.
But I found at laſt, by hearing and conſidering of things that are Divine, which indeed I heard of you, as alſo of beloved Faithful, that was put to death for his Faith and good-living in Vanity-fair, That the end of these things is death. [Rom[ans] 6. 21, 22, 23.] And that for theſe things ſake, the wrath of God cometh upon the children of diſobedience. [Eph[esians] 5. 6.]1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC, pages 187–188:
When the Toy had once taken Jupiter in the Head to Enter into a State of Matrimony, he Reſolv'd for the Honour of his Celeſtial Lady, that the whole World ſhould keep a Feſtiual upon the Day of his Marriage, and ſo Invited all Living Creatures, Tag-Rag and Bob-Tail, to the Solemnity to his Wedding. They all came in very Good Time, ſaving the Tortoiſe. Jupiter […] Ask'd him, Why ſo Late? Why truly ſays the Tortoiſe, I was at Home, at my Own Houſe, my Dearly Beloved Houſe, and [Home is Home, let it be never ſo Homely.]1692, Roger L’Estrange, “[The Fables of Æsop, &c.] Fab[le] CLXXXV. Jupiters Wedding.”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC, page 155:
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It is ſcarce poſſible to imagine the Conſternation I was now in, being driven from my beloved Iſland (for ſo it appeared to me now to be) into the wide Ocean, almoſt two Leagues, and in the utmoſt Deſpair of ever recovering it again.1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC, pages 164–165:
There was a youthe, and a well-beloved youthe, / And he was a ſquires ſon: / He loved the bayliffes daughter deare, / That lived in Iſlington.1765, Thomas Percy, compiler, “The Bailiff’s Daughter of Islington”, in Reliques of Ancient English Poetry: […], volume III, London: […] J[ames] Dodsley […], →OCLC, book II, page 133, lines 1–4:
Belovedest, I know not what counsel to give thee about calling on my sisters; and therefore must leave the matter to thine own exquisite sense of what is right and delicate.1840 June 2, Nathaniel Hawthorne, “To Miss Peabody”, in Love Letters of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Chicago, Ill.: The Society of the Dofobs, published 1907, →OCLC, page 201:
Don’t worry, belovedest little angel, all is going quite well and Hub takes ever such care.1916 July 13, Alan Scrivener Lloyd, Lloyd File, London: Imperial War Museum; quoted in Malcolm Brown, “Somme Summer”, in The Imperial War Museum Book of the Somme, London: Sidgwick & Jackson in association with The Imperial War Museum, 1996, published 1997, →ISBN, page 149:
Etymology From Middle English beloved, biloved, equivalent to belove + -ed.
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:
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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, →ISBN, page 7: