the dear knows meaning (dated): definition

the dear knows

phrase

Etymology Unclear. Bliss and Dolan suggest a conflation of dear, as in "oh dear" or "the Dear Lord", and deer, by analogy with the conflation in Irish of Fiadha "God" and fiadh "deer".

Ireland, Dated God knows; nobody knows

O thou, whom poets call Melpomene, Who hast inspir'd, the dear knows how many In ancient times to sing O Dear O's On hapless fates of unknown heroes,1806 'Caleb Thistle' "How are the mighty fallen!" in The Evening Fire-side; or Literary Miscellany (Philadelphia; 10 May 1806) Vol.II No.19 p.147
I know where I’m going, I know who’s going with me, I know who I love, But the dear knows who I’ll marry.19th century Anonymous Irish or Scottish ballad, I Know Where I’m Going

1 more example

And there it sits, spreading rubbish about because of the cats, and smelling like the Dear knows what.2004, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, The Dear Departed, page 205:

Ireland, Dated God knows; of course, certainly, nobody could doubt

Then she gave a little sigh and said: ‘Ah, well! We did our best, the dear knows.’1904–1907 (date written), James Joyce, “A Mother”, in Dubliners, London: Grant Richards, published June 1914, →OCLC, page 173:
The dear knows your father worked hard enough for the money he is laying out on your education.1939, Flann O'Brien, chapter 1, in At Swim-two-birds: