Correlation between Expensive things and Greater Value

But not everything expensive is something we hold dear.

Ordinarily, you wouldn’t spend a lot of money on something which didn’t have value to you.

In English some use the word dear to mean expensive while others are unfamiliar with that usage.
Actual expensive items had better provide more utility, or else you’re paying for nothing.

LB: Yakar = precious. While I know “dear” and “precious” are synonyms the term yakar used as you state “We address a greeting card to “Chaim the dear” ” is really Chaim the precious.

“Yakar” meant “expensive” way before English came around. It appears numerous times in Mishnayos

Language evolves.

We are not talking about societal niceties. dictionary dot com has various definitions for “dear”.

1. beloved or loved: a dear friend.
2. (used in the salutation of a letter as an expression of affection or respect or as a conventional greeting):
Dear Sir.
3. precious in one’s regard; cherished: our dearest possessions.
4. heartfelt; earnest: one’s dearest wish.
5. high-priced; expensive: The silk dress was too dear.
6. charging high prices: That shop is too dear for my budget.
7. excessive; high: a dear price to pay for one’s independence.

I would think that the word HAYAKAR used after the name would probably be “the precious” and not “the dear”.

ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר

Explain that one

meno: The Jews had light and joy, and gladness and honor.

How about Esther 1:4 – בְּהַרְאֹתוֹ אֶת עשֶׁר כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ וְאֶת יְקָר – When he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom, and the splendor….

or Tehillim 116:15 – יָקָר בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה הַמָּוְתָה לַחֲסִידָיו – Difficult in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones.

Tehillim 116:15 יָקָר בְּעֵינֵי יְהֹוָה הַמָּוְתָה לַחֲסִידָיו: – Difficult in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones.

See Rashi

http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14255&st=%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%A8&pgnum=433
http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14255&st=%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%A8&pgnum=434

http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14363&st=&pgnum=308&hilite=

kavod is called ykar in targum

Re Joseph’s comment re Dear Sir, et al.: Your speculation about the meaning of “Dear” in the salutation of a business letter is nonsensical speculation. “Dear” in a business letter means nothing other than: I’m talking to you.

DY think in the gemara it means heavy (kovaid). I think these are all interrelated somehow.

Yes. If u realize chavaid and kovod have very similar letters. I doubt this is a coincidence