Love:
Pronunciation:\?l?v\
Function: noun
Etymology:Middle English,from Old English lufu; akin to Old High German luba love,Old English l?of dear,Latin lub?re,lib?re to please
Date:before 12th century
1 a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child
>(2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration,benevolence,or common interests <love for his old schoolmates>b : an assurance of love <give her my love>
2 : warm attachment,enthusiasm,or devotion <love of the sea>
3 a : the object of attachment,devotion,or admiration <baseball was his first love>b (1) : a beloved person : darling —often used as a term of endearment (2) British —used as an informal term of address
4 a : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another:as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others b : a person’s adoration of God
5 : a god or personification of love
6 : an amorous episode : love affair
7 : the sexual embrace : copulation
8 : a score of zero (as in tennis)
9 capitalized Christian Science : god
— at love : holding one’s opponent scoreless in tennis
— in love : inspired by affection
–noun
1. a profoundly tender,passionate affection for another person.
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection,as for a parent,child,or friend.
3. sexual passion or desire.
4. a person toward whom love is felt;beloved person;sweetheart.
5. (used in direct address as a term of endearment,affection,or the like):Would you like to see a movie,love?
6. a love affair;an intensely amorous incident;amour.
7. sexual intercourse;copulation.
8. ( initial capital letter
) a personification of sexual affection,as Eros or Cupid.
9. affectionate concern for the well-being of others:the love of one’s neighbor.
10. strong predilection,enthusiasm,or liking for anything:her love of books.
11. the object or thing so liked:The theater was her great love.
12. the benevolent affection of
god for His creatures,or the reverent affection due from them to God.
13. Chiefly Tennis . a score of zero;nothing.
14. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter L.
–verb (used with object)
15. to have love or affection for:All her pupils love her.
16. to have a profoundly tender,passionate affection for (another person).
17. to have a strong liking for;take great pleasure in:to love music.
18. to need or require;benefit greatly from:Plants love sunlight.
19. to embrace and kiss (someone),as a lover.
20. to have sexual intercourse with.
–verb (used without object)
21. to have love or affection for another person;be in love.
—Verb phrase
22. love up,to hug and cuddle:She loves him up every chance she gets.
—Idioms
23.for love,
a. out of affection or liking;for pleasure.
b. without compensation;gratuitously:He took care of the poor for love.
24. for the love of,in consideration of;for the sake of:For the love of mercy,stop that noise.
25. in love,infused with or feeling deep affection or passion:a youth always in love.
26. in love with,feeling deep affection or passion for (a person,idea,occupation,etc.);enamored of:in love with the girl next door;in love with one’s work.
27. make love,
a. to embrace and kiss as lovers.
b. to engage in sexual activity.
28. no love lost,dislike;animosity:There was no love lost between the two brothers.
Synonyms:adulation,affection,allegiance,amity,amorousness,amour,appreciation,ardency,ardor,attachment,case*,cherishing,crush,delight,devotedness,devotion,emotion,enchantment,enjoyment,fervor,fidelity,flame,fondness,friendship,hankering,idolatry,inclination,infatuation,involvement,like,lust,mad for,partiality,passion,piety,rapture,regard,relish,respect,sentiment,soft spot,taste,tenderness,weakness,worship,yearning,zeal
Origin:bef. 900; (n.) ME;OE lufu, c. OFris luve, OHG luba, Goth lub?; (v.) ME lov ( i ) en, OE lufian; c. OFris luvia, OHG lub?n to love,L lub?re (later lib?re ) to be pleasing;akin to
lief References:
“love.”Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2010. Merriam-Webster Online. 30 May 2010. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/love>
“love.”Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House,Inc. 30 May. 2010. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/love>.
love.”Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus,Third Edition. Philip Lief Group 2009. 30 May. 2010. <Thesaurus.com http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/love>.
