Definition of "treasure"

"Now," resumed Silver, "here it is. You give us the chart to get the treasure by, and drop shooting poor seamen and stoving of their heads in while asleep. You do that, and we'll offer you a choice. Either you come aboard along of us, once the treasure shipped, and then I'll give you my affy-davy, upon my word of honour, to clap you somewhere safe ashore.

1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 20, in Treasure Island

Ye shall be peculiar treasure unto me.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Exodus 19:5

You have ſent me a Treaſure, and I would not ſhare time to tell you ſo, till I had ſomewhat ſatisfied the thirſt I had to drink down many of thoſe Excellent Sermons, which I have ſo long deſired: […]

1640 July 30, [John Towers], “Upon the Sending of the First Volume of These Sermons to the Right Reverend Father in God, the Bishop of Peterborough, then My Diocesan, I Received This Letter”, in John Donne, XXVI. Sermons (Never before Publish’d) Preached by that Learned and Reverend Divine John Donne, […], London: […] Thomas Newcomb, […], published 1661

I found the whole to answer your Account of it, a Heap of Jewels, unstrung and unpolisht; yet so dazling in their Disorder, that I soon perceiv'd I had seiz'd a Treasure.

1681, Nahum Tate, The History of King Lear

She's my Filipino baby she's my treasure and my petHer teeth are bright and pearly and her hair is black as jet

1946, Ernest Tubb, Filipino Baby

"Hello, Treasure," he said without turning round. For a second she hesitated, standing in the soft light of the lamp, the deep blue of the rug making a background for her, the black fur collar of her coat framing the vivid beauty of her face.

1922, Francis Rufus Bellamy, A Flash of Gold

I LOVE it, I love it ; and who shall dareTo chide me for loving that old Arm-chair ?I've treasured it long as a sainted prize ;I've bedewed it with tears, and embalmed it with sighs.

1838, Eliza Cook, “The Old Armchair”, in Melania and other Poems

The rose-buds, withered as they were, were still treasured under his cuirass, and nearest to his heart.

1825, Walter Scott, The Talisman