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; preëminent 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.
☞ 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 (Zoöl.), 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 agapæ 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
fœtida, 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.