'beloved' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'belufod' (be- + lufod), where 'be-' was a prefix and 'lufod' meant 'loved'.

'beloved' changed from Old English 'belufod' (or 'be-lufod'), through Middle English forms such as 'biloved' and 'beloved', and eventually became the modern English word 'beloved'.

Initially, it meant 'having been loved' (past participle sense of 'to love'), but over time it evolved into the adjective and noun meaning 'dearly loved' or 'a dearly loved person'.