Origin: Germanic Old English prefix
Beloved has 5 different meanings across 2 categories:
Someone who is loved; something that is loved.
"The beloved child ran happily toward his mother after school."
In plain English: A beloved is someone who is deeply loved and cherished by others, often used to describe a person's favorite child or partner.
"The beloved was found waiting outside after school."
simple past tense and past participle of belove.
"The couple had been beloved by their community since they first arrived in town."
In plain English: To beloved is an old and rare word meaning to be loved deeply by someone, though it is almost never used as a verb today because people say they love each other instead of being beloved.
"The crowd is beloved to welcome her back every year with flowers and cheers."
Much loved, dearly loved.
"She was my beloved grandmother, whose wisdom guided me through every difficult decision."
Usage: Use the adjective form to describe people or things cherished with deep affection, such as a beloved child or hometown. Avoid using it for temporary liking when "liked" would be more appropriate in casual conversation.
The word beloved comes from Middle English and is formed by combining the Old French phrase meaning "to love well" with a past participle suffix. It entered modern usage as an adjective describing someone who is dearly cherished or adored.