costly

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective entailing great loss or sacrifice
  2. adjective having a high price

Etymology

From Middle English costly, costely, costeley, equivalent to cost + -ly.

In classic literature

Synonyms

dearly-won

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