Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Love?

\Love\, n. [OE. love, luve, AS. lufe, lufu; akin to E. lief, believe, L. lubet, libet,it pleases, Skr. lubh to be lustful. See {Lief}.] 1. A feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration; pre["e]minent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness; as, the love of brothers and sisters. Of all the dearest bonds we prove Thou countest sons' and mothers' love Most sacred, most Thine own. --Keble. 2. Especially, devoted attachment to, or tender or passionate affection for, one of the opposite sex. He on his side Leaning half-raised, with looks of cordial love Hung over her enamored. --Milton. 3. Courtship; -- chiefly in the phrase to make love, i. e., to court, to woo, to solicit union in marriage. Demetrius . . . Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, And won her soul. --Shak. 4. Affection; kind feeling; friendship; strong liking or desire; fondness; good will; -- opposed to {hate}; often with of and an object. Love, and health to all. --Shak. Smit with the love of sacred song. --Milton. The love of science faintly warmed his breast. --Fenton. 5. Due gratitude and reverence to God. Keep yourselves in the love of God. --Jude 21. 6. The object of affection; -- often employed in endearing address. ``Trust me, love.'' --Dryden. Open the temple gates unto my love. --Spenser. 7. Cupid, the god of love; sometimes, Venus. Such was his form as painters, when they show Their utmost art, on naked Lores bestow. --Dryden. Therefore do nimble-pinioned doves draw Love. --Shak. 8. A thin silk stuff. [Obs.] --Boyle. 9. (Bot.) A climbing species of Clematis ({C. Vitalba}). 10. Nothing; no points scored on one side; -- used in counting score at tennis, etc. He won the match by three sets to love. --The Field. Note: Love is often used in the formation of compounds, in most of which the meaning is very obvious; as, love-cracked, love-darting, love-killing, love-linked, love-taught, etc. {A labor of love}, a labor undertaken on account of regard for some person, or through pleasure in the work itself, without expectation of reward. {Free love}, the doctrine or practice of consorting with one of the opposite sex, at pleasure, without marriage. See {Free love}. {Free lover}, one who avows or practices free love. {In love}, in the act of loving; -- said esp. of the love of the sexes; as, to be in love; to fall in love. {Love apple} (Bot.), the tomato. {Love bird} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of small, short-tailed parrots, or parrakeets, of the genus {Agapornis}, and allied genera. They are mostly from Africa. Some species are often kept as cage birds, and are celebrated for the affection which they show for their mates. {Love broker}, a person who for pay acts as agent between lovers, or as a go-between in a sexual intrigue. --Shak. {Love charm}, a charm for exciting love. --Ld. Lytton. {Love child}. an illegitimate child. --Jane Austen. {Love day}, a day formerly appointed for an amicable adjustment of differences. [Obs.] --Piers Plowman. --Chaucer. {Love drink}, a love potion; a philter. --Chaucer. {Love favor}, something given to be worn in token of love. {Love feast}, a religious festival, held quarterly by some religious denominations, as the Moravians and Methodists, in imitation of the agap[ae] of the early Christians. {Love feat}, the gallant act of a lover. --Shak. {Love game}, a game, as in tennis, in which the vanquished person or party does not score a point. {Love grass}. [G. liebesgras.] (Bot.) Any grass of the genus {Eragrostis}. {Love-in-a-mist}. (Bot.) (a) An herb of the Buttercup family ({Nigella Damascena}) having the flowers hidden in a maze of finely cut bracts. (b) The West Indian {Passiflora f[oe]tida}, which has similar bracts. {Love-in-idleness} (Bot.), a kind of violet; the small pansy. A little western flower, Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound; And maidens call it love-in-idleness. --Shak. {Love juice}, juice of a plant supposed to produce love. --Shak. {Love knot}, a knot or bow, as of ribbon; -- so called from being used as a token of love, or as a pledge of mutual affection. --Milman. {Love lass}, a sweetheart. {Love letter}, a letter of courtship. --Shak. {Love-lies-bleeding} (Bot.), a species of amaranth ({Amarantus melancholicus}). {Love match}, a marriage brought about by love alone. {Love potion}, a compounded draught intended to excite love, or venereal desire. {Love rites}, sexual intercourse. --Pope {Love scene}, an exhibition of love, as between lovers on the stage. {Love suit}, courtship. --Shak. {Of all loves}, for the sake of all love; by all means. [Obs.] ``Mrs. Arden desired him of all loves to come back again.'' --Holinshed. {The god of love}, or {Love god}, Cupid. {To make love to}, to express affection for; to woo. ``If you will marry, make your loves to me.'' --Shak. {To play for love}, to play a game, as at cards, without stakes. ``A game at piquet for love.'' --Lamb. Syn: Affection; friendship; kindness; tenderness; fondness; delight.
\Love\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Loved}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Loving}.] [AS. lufian. ?. See {Love}, n.] 1. To have a feeling of love for; to regard with affection or good will; as, to love one's children and friends; to love one's country; to love one's God. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. --Matt. xxii. 37. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self. --Matt. xxii. 39. 2. To regard with passionate and devoted affection, as that of one sex for the other. 3. To take delight or pleasure in; to have a strong liking or desire for, or interest in; to be pleased with; to like; as, to love books; to love adventures. Wit, eloquence, and poetry. Arts which I loved. --Cowley.
\Love\, v. i. To have the feeling of love; to be in love.