sweeting

A gardener picks a ripe sweeting from the tree.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A sweet apple: "sweeting" refers to a variety of apple that is particularly sweet in taste.
   • A term of endearment: In archaic or poetic usage, "sweeting" is used as a loving or affectionate name for a person, similar to "sweetheart" or "darling."

Usage Examples

• Noun (sweet apple):

  • The farmer grew several sweetings in his orchard, known for their sugary flavor. (A type of sweet apple.)
  • She preferred a sweeting over a tart apple for her pie. (A specific apple variety.)

• Noun (term of endearment):

  • "Come here, my sweeting," she said to her child. (An affectionate address.)
  • In old ballads, lovers often called each other "sweeting." (A poetic or archaic term of endearment.)

Advanced Usage

• "My sweeting": an archaic phrase used to express deep fondness.
  • "Farewell, my sweeting, until we meet again," he whispered. (A loving farewell, now rarely used in modern English.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sweet (adj): having the taste of sugar; also used as a term of endearment.
  • The fruit is very sweet. (Tasting like sugar.)
• Sweetness (n): the quality of being sweet.
  • The sweetness of the apple was remarkable. (The sweet taste.)

Synonyms

• Darling: a beloved person.
• Honey: a term of endearment.
• Apple: in the literal sense, a type of fruit.

Related Idioms