| love, n.1falsefalse$Revision$Pronunciation:  , Forms:
α. Old English lufo (chiefly Northumbrian), Old English lufu, Old English luuu, Old English (in compounds)–Middle English luf, Old English–Middle English lufe, late Old English–Middle English luue, early Middle English leoue, early Middle English lufæ, Middle English lof, Middle English loff, Middle English loffe, Middle English lofue, Middle English louf, Middle English louo (transmission error), Middle English louue, Middle English lov, Middle English lovfe, Middle English lovue, Middle English low, Middle English lowe, Middle English lowfe, Middle English luff, Middle English luffe, Middle English lufue, Middle English 1600s lofe, Middle English (1800s– English regional and Irish English) luve, Middle English–1500s (1800s English regional (northern) and Irish English) loove, Middle English–1600s loue, Middle English– love, late Middle English lone (transmission error), 1500s looue, 1700s–1800s luive (English regional (Cumberland)), 1800s– luv (nonstandard); Scottish pre-1700 leuf, pre-1700 leuff, pre-1700 leuve, pre-1700 lof, pre-1700 lofe, pre-1700 loif, pre-1700 loiff, pre-1700 loive, pre-1700 loowe, pre-1700 lou, pre-1700 loue, pre-1700 louf, pre-1700 louve, pre-1700 lov, pre-1700 low, pre-1700 lowe, pre-1700 lowff, pre-1700 lowif, pre-1700 luf, pre-1700 lufe, pre-1700 lufee (perhaps transmission error), pre-1700 luff, pre-1700 luif, pre-1700 luife, pre-1700 luiff, pre-1700 luiffe, pre-1700 luue, pre-1700 luw, pre-1700 luwe, pre-1700 luyf, pre-1700 lwfe, pre-1700 lwff, pre-1700 lwif, pre-1700 lwife, pre-1700 1700s loove, pre-1700 1700s luffe, pre-1700 1700s luive, pre-1700 1700s– love, pre-1700 1700s– luve, pre-1700 1900s– luv. β. Scottish pre-1700 1800s lo, 1800s lae, 1900s– lue. See also (Show Less) Origin: A word inherited from Germanic. Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian luve love, Old Saxon luƀa love, inclination, Old High German luba love, inclination (also in the compound muotluba , mōtluba love), and also with Gothic (weak feminine) -lubō (in brōþru-lubō brotherly love) < the same Germanic base as Old Saxon luƀig willing, pious, Old English lufen hope, Gothic lubains hope, and probably also (and hence ); these are probably all formed on the zero-grade of an Indo-European base, other ablaut grades of which are also widely represented in Germanic languages. Compare (from the e-grade) and the derived verb forms Old English lēofian to be or become dear, Middle Dutch lieven to be dear (to), to please (Dutch † lieven , superseded by liefhebben to love, to cherish, lit. ‘to have dear’), Old High German liobōn , liuben to make agreeable or dear, to be agreeable or dear, to desire, to do (someone) good (Middle High German lieben to make agreeable or dear, to be or become agreeable or dear, to be pleasing (to), to show kindness (to), German lieben to love, to be fond of), and also Middle Dutch liefde agreeableness, affection, friendship (Dutch liefde love), Middle Dutch lieve agreeableness, affection, friendship, love, Old High German liubī , also liuba the pleasure that one experiences for or through something, agreeableness, fondness, kindliness, goodwill (Middle High German liebe , in the same range of senses, German Liebe love); the o-grade of the same base is probably shown by , , Outside Germanic the same Indo-European base is probably shown by classical Latin lubet (also libet ) it is pleasing, lubīdō (also libīdō ) desire, Old Church Slavonic ljubiti to love, ljubŭ dear, ljuby (genitive ljubŭve ) love, Old Russian ljubiti to love (Russian ljubit′ ), ljub′′ dear (Russian ljub ), ljuby (genitive ljub′′ve ) love (Russian ljubov′ ), Sanskrit lubh- to be confused, (later) to feel avid desire, to allure, lobha (noun) desire, greed. (For a very different account of the relationships among the various Germanic words, based on the hypothesis that is also related, see F. Kluge Etymologisches Wörterbuch (ed. 24, 2002) at lieb, Laub, Lob, glauben, etc.) In Old English usually a strong feminine ( lufu ); however, a weak feminine form ( lufe ) is also attested. With use denoting a person compare (Show Less) I. Senses relating to affection and attachment. 1. eOE Cleopatra Gloss. in W. G. Stryker
(Ph.D. diss., Stanford Univ.)
(1951)
39
Affectu, for hylde & lufe. c1275
(▸?a1200)
Laȝamon
(Calig.)
(1963)
2079
He hehte þat luue [c1300 Otho: lofe] scolde liðen heom bi-tweonen. a1400
(▸a1325)
(Vesp.)
l. 99 (MED)
O reut [a1400 Fairf. petey], o loue, and charite, Was neuer hir mak. c1400
(▸c1378)
W. Langland
(Laud 581)
(1869)
B. i. 146 (MED)
Trewthe telleþ þat loue is triacle of heuene. a1500
(▸?a1425)
tr.
(Lamb.)
135
Humylite Engendryth lowe that destrueth envy and hatredyn. 1557 F. Seager Schoole of Vertue in
(2002)
i. 349
Loue doth moue the mynde to mercie. a1628 J. Preston
(1631)
8
Love and hatred are..the great Lords and Masters, that divide the rest of the affections between them. 1693 W. Bates v. 176
Human Love is a troubled irregular Passion, mixt with Ignorance, and prone to Error in the Excess or Defect. 1715 J. Barker Pref. sig. A3
Love is the Passion which generally attends Youth. 1798 J. Baillie Introd. Disc. in 62
Love is the chief groundwork of almost all our tragedies and comedies. 1809 S. T. Coleridge
(2002)
III. 70
Love is a desire of the whole being to be united to some thing, or some being, felt necessary to its completeness. 1911 Ld. H. Tennyson 122
He liked home-thrusts at human foibles and frailty, and again the outwelling of native nobility, generosity, or love. 1941 V. Woolf 92
Love. Hate. Peace. Three emotions made the ply of human life. 1999 J. Wood 181
At its highest levels, the novelist's ability to penetrate the otherness of his characters is indistinguishable from love. eOE—1999(Hide quotations) OE 116
Þonne ic me to fremþum freode hæfde, cyðþu gecwe[me] me wæs a cearu symle lufena to leane, swa ic alifde nu. a1200
(▸?c1175)
Poema Morale
(Trin. Cambr.)
314 in R. Morris
(1873)
2nd Ser. 229 (MED)
Alle godel [read godes] laȝes hie fulleð..Þe þe þos two luues [v.rr. two loue, twa luue, two luuen] halt and wile hes wel healde. a1450
(Westm. Sch. 3)
11
Alle þe loues þat euere were, or þat euere hadde fadir or modir to here childer. 1548 vi. f. liiijv
All these loues, bondes and deuties of necessite are this daie to be experimented, shewed and put in experience. 1573 G. Gascoigne 330
No such trustlesse flood, Should keepe our loues (long time) in twayne. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
iv. i. 49
What good loue may I performe for you? 1632 W. Lithgow v. 189
I met with an English ship..whose loues I cannot easily forget. 1695 J. Norris x. 233
We are therefore to cast both these Loves into one and the same Chanel, and make them both flow in one full Current towards God. 1733 A. Pope ii. 35
We learn..those Joys, those Loves, those Int'rests to resign. 1795 C. Lloyd 50
Those friendships, those loves, those emotions so dear, That thrill the young mind. a1853 F. W. Robertson
(1858)
i. 25
The same feelings and anxieties and loves. 1934 ‘L. G. Gibbon’ ii. 77
An antrin magic that bound you in one with the mind, not only the body of a man, with his dreams and desires, his loves, even hates. a1968 T. Merton tr. Meng Tzu Ox Mountain Parable ii, in
(1977)
971
The moisture of the dawn spirit Awakens in us the right loves, the right aversions. 2002 17 Apr. 34/2
The movie soundtrack has become the new hip canvas for artists to flex their cinematic loves and leanings. OE—2002(Hide quotations) lOE
(Rochester)
iii. xiii. §3. 232
Þar þegen age twegen costas, lufe oððe lage, & he þonne lufe geceose, stande þæt swa fæst swa se dom. a1325
(▸c1250)
(1968)
l. 635
God gat it: a token of luuen [Genesis 9:12: signum fœderis] Taunede him in ðe wakene a-buuen, Rein-bowe, men cleped, reed and blo. ?a1475
(▸?a1425)
tr. R. Higden
(Harl. 2261)
(1869)
II. 347
The gentiles vsede to caste downe the bloode of a sowe in to a signe of luffe. ?a1475
(▸?a1425)
tr. R. Higden
(Harl. 2261)
(1872)
IV. 123
He..was receyvede in to the frendschippe of the Romanes, and the forme of the luffe and convention made was wryten in tables of brasse. ?a1475
(▸?a1425)
tr. R. Higden
(Harl. 2261)
(1865)
I. 99
Hit [sc. Oreb] is called also the mownte of fere and of luffe [L. mons terroris et fœderis]. c1503 R. Arnold f. xxxij/1
Yf ther bee ony persone wythin the warde that is not vnder francpledge that is to saye vndir loue and lawe. lOE—c1503(Hide quotations) 4. 1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione iii. sig. Ii.i v
M. Francis Petrarca, that writt so diuinlye his loues in this oure tunge. 1589 G. Puttenham iii. xxiii. 225
Nothing is so vnpleasant to a man, as to be encountred in his chiefe affection, & specially in his loues. 1590 E. Spenser i. ii. sig. B3
Like a young Squire, in loues and lusty hed His wanton daies that euer loosely led. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1622)
v. ii. 43
Oth. Thinke on thy sinnes. Des. They are loues I beare to you. 1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil 137
All the Rapes of Gods, and ev'ry Love, From ancient Chaos down to youthful Jove. 1738 J. Swift 103
I suppose, the Colonel was cross'd in his first Love. 1767 R. Bentley iv. ii. 42
Her loves with Bacchus, and her stellar wreath, Are allegorical, and mean no more Than the song tells us. 1844 B. Disraeli III. viii. ii. 202
The sweet pathos of their mutual loves. 1849 G. P. R. James I. ii. 9
Tapestry..representing..the loves of Mars and Venus..did not in those days at all shock the inhabitants of the nunnery. 1895 A. Douglas Let. in H. M. Hyde
(1948)
360
There are several women in London whose friendship with other women does carry a taint and a suspicion, simply because these women are obviously ‘sapphic’ in their loves. 1933 D. Thomas ?21 Dec.
(1987)
67
You..dwell, unhappily but unbrokenly, upon the passing of juvenile loves. 1974 I. Murdoch 81
Oh my sweetikin, how can such a love as ours stop? 2003
(Nexis)
20 June (Weekend section) 13
The Carrie-Jack relationship doesn't have the spark of her past loves. 1561—2003(Hide quotations) 1717 G. Sewell Prol. in S. Centlivre sig. A5v
This is her first attempt in Tragick-Stuff; And here's Intrigue, and Plot, and Love enough. 1781 S. Johnson Addison in V. 46
The greatest weakness of the play is in the scenes of love... Yet the Love is..intimately mingled with the whole action. 1860 T. B. Macaulay William Pitt in (2nd par.)
This piece..is in some respects highly curious. There is no love. The whole plot is political. 1892 22 Oct. 476/1
[The] story turns..on murder and revenge, with a little love thrown in. 1932 B. L. Suzuki 19
A romantic play (jo or katsuramono), in which the chief character is a woman and the chief motive love. 1949 F. Towers
(1952)
30
Must she also have a beautiful mind, to set her above other people and make her so fastidious that she wouldn't even let one got to a cinema or read a book with love in it? 1717—1949(Hide quotations) 6. c1405
(▸c1387–95)
G. Chaucer
(Hengwrt)
(2003)
l. 672
Ful loude he soong com hyder loue [1477 Glasgow my loue] to me. c1503
(Pynson)
sig. F.ii
She sayde beuys loue dere, Ryde nat fro me in no manere. 1600 iii. sig. D4
Why loue, doubt you that? 1600 iii. sig. E4
Thou art growne passing strange, my loue. 1642 8
That the said Lang doth affirm that the Book of Canticles in the Old Testament was but a kind of baudy Song, My Love, my Dove, my faire one, &c. 1757 D. Garrick iv. 35
No more, my Love, complaining of the past, We lose the present Joy. 1795 S. T. Coleridge 85
How oft, my Love! with shapings sweet I paint the moment, we shall meet! 1812 T. Moore Young May Moon in III. v. 18
The young May moon is beaming, love. 1860 C. Patmore iii. ii. 180
And there's another thing, my Love, I wish you'd show you don't approve. 1895 A. W. Pinero iii. 104
Paula love, I fancied you and Aubrey were a little more friendly. 1920 ‘K. Mansfield’ 17 Jan.
(1993)
III. 182
You were not made of steel. Oh, my Love, was I so heavy? 1957 J. Braine vi. 52
T'lad's cum to enjoy hisen, 'aven't you, luv? 1966 29 Jan. 22/3
‘Sit over here, love,’ he said as another actress entered. 1968 A. Clarke x. 126
The nurses called me ‘Luv’ or ‘Dear’. 1991 J. Cartwright 1
Landlady: Stuff it man. (To customer.) Yes love can I help you? 2002 C. Newland ii. 23
The chance was too good to miss, luv. c1405—2002(Hide quotations) c1405
(▸c1385)
G. Chaucer
(Hengwrt)
(2003)
l. 1448
Ne neuere wol I be no loue ne wyf. ?a1425
(▸c1400)
(Titus C.xvi)
(1919)
103
Whan þei [sc. Amazons] wil haue ony companye of man..þan þei [have] here loues [?a1425 Egerton lemmans; Fr. amys] þat vsen hem. 1462 W. Barker in
(2004)
II. 277
He bydeth but a tyme þat he myght gete a summe of money to-geders..and to gon ther-with with a love of his soiornyng as yette in Hokehold. 1565 T. Cooper at Siue
Wheather this be his wyfe, or his loue, great with childe she is by Pamphilus. 1602 W. Shakespeare iii. v. 73
To search for his wiues loue. 1613 S. Purchas 768
They haue one wife, many loues. 1636 H. Blount 14
Each Basha hath as many or like more Catamites, which are their serious loves; for their Wives are used..for reputation. c1405—1636(Hide quotations) 1734 A. Pope 180
The Lover, and the Love, of Human kind. 1754 Earl of Chatham
(1804)
iv. 28
Make yourself the love and admiration of the world. 1818 Ld. Byron clxx. 88
In the dust The fair-haired Daughter of the Isles is laid, The love of millions. 1887 W. Carleton 94
He vaulted 'mongst the nation's honored sons; He was the love of all the living ones. 1968 L. Blanch xii. 168
His last link with Princess Eliza Vorontzova who had been the love of his youth, of his life, it was said. 1976 D. Francis vi. 679
He'd missed weeks in the summer for his other love, which was sailing. 2000 N. Braybrooke in ‘I. English’ Pref. p. x
His second love was sailing—but, there again, he felt he could never be a crack helmsman. 1734—2000(Hide quotations) 1814 J. Austen 23 Aug.
(1995)
270
The Garden is quite a Love. 1831 Countess Granville 28 Feb.
(1894)
II. 91
A pretty, tiny daughter, whom my girls think a love. 1837 L. Hunt Blue-stocking Revels i, in
(1844)
103
Such doves of Petitions, and loves of sweet Pray'rs. 1841 S. Warren II. 75
He's a love of a man, pa, isn't he? 1864 W. H. Ainsworth I. Prol. vi. 76
Nankin has the tiniest teacups you ever beheld—perfect loves! 1889 ‘R. Boldrewood’ xxiv
What a love of a chain! 1936 ‘N. Blake’ xiii. 230
Ah, a dotey little love she was. 1970 19 May 32/1
‘What a love of a place!’ exclaimed prospective bride Vicki Scrivner. 1972 A. Bennett ii. 36
Be a love, Geoff, and tell them a story. 2002
(Nexis)
17 Feb. 7
Winston, her bulldog, pads in from the next room... ‘Isn't he a cutie, isn't he a love?’ 1814—2002(Hide quotations) 7. 1595 E. Spenser Amoretti xvi, in sig. Bv
Legions of loues with little wings did fly. 1608 B. Jonson ii. 12
A world of little Loues, and chast Desires, Do light their [sc. the Muses'] beauties, with still mouing fires. a1667 A. Cowley Verses Several Occasions 14 in
(1668)
All around The little Loves that waited by, Bow'd, and blest the Augurie. 1734 J. Swift Strephon & Cloe in 10
The smiling Cyprian Goddess brings Her infant Loves with purple Wings. ?1793 S. T. Coleridge 49
A thousand Loves around her forehead fly; A thousand Loves sit melting in her eye. a1839 W. M. Praed
(1864)
II. 63
Where'er her step in beauty moves, Around her fly a thousand loves. 1866 A. C. Swinburne Sapphics in 206
The Loves thronged sadly with hidden faces Round Aphrodite. a1891 A. Pike
(1900)
52
Let all the Loves Fly round thy chariot, with sweet, low songs Murmuring upon their lips. 1928 E. Strong II. xii. 40
The little loves riding on panthers and donkeys..are examples of that art of cælatura which aroused the enthusiasm of Pliny. 1966 29 441
A great company of winged loves fly after her [sc. Venus]. 1998 26 253
In The Haddington Masque a month later, little Loves escort Cupid as his torchbearers. 1595—1998(Hide quotations) II. Senses relating to games of skill or chance. 9. 1880 12 Aug. 198/2
A server may be deadly if his service comes off on the first try; and if it does so for a few strokes, he wins his game nearly to ‘love’. 1925 11 July 73/1
Mr. Jacob..lost the third set to love after winning a long second. 1996 26 June 68/3
Serving for the first set he was broken disastrously to love. 2013 M. Lawson viii. 257
Tom takes the first set to love. 1880—2013(Hide quotations) III. Other uses. 12. 1874 J. Lindley & T. Moore Suppl.
Love, a name used in Tasmania for Comesperma volubile. 1894 J. K. Arthur 26
Among Australian flowering plants, ‘Love’ is the pet name bestowed on a most beautiful little creeper bearing flowers of a lovely blue. 1942 C. Barrett 45
The stems twist spirally and it is difficult to separate the love creeper from its supporting plant without breaking or cutting them. 1947 A. H. Garnsey 88
Tangled masses of the blue creeper known as ‘love’. 2004
(Nexis)
9 Nov. 42
They uncovered several notable native plants that had been growing timidly in the shade of the dominant weeds including..love creeper. 1874—2004(Hide quotations) Phrases P1. In prepositional phrases, chiefly with for. a. In asseverations and imprecations. eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius
(Otho)
xxii. 51
Ic wille [þe oðewan] forlustlice for ðinum lufum [L. tui causa libenter]. OE 23
Eal þis he þrowode for ure lufan & hælo. a1225
(▸c1200)
(1888)
7 (MED)
I bidde and warni, for ðe luue of gode and for ȝuer lieue saule, þat ȝie hatien..ðes awerȝhede senne. a1400
(▸a1325)
(Vesp.)
l. 14683 (MED)
For þin dedes gode..We wil noght stan þe..Bot for þine werkes gain þe lau And for þe luue o þi missau.
▸
a1470 T. Malory
(Winch. Coll. 13)
(1990)
II. 891
We shall destroy all the knyghtes of kyng Arthurs..for the love of sir Galahad. c1480
(▸a1400)
St. Placidus 163 in W. M. Metcalfe
(1896)
II. 74
Sa hyme, for þe luf of me, þat in my nam he baptis þe. 1548 f. lxii
Required the Englishe lordes for the loue of God that the truce might continue. 1589 J. Jane in R. Hakluyt iii. 790
The Sauages came to the Island..and tore the two vpper strakes, and caried them away onely for the loue of the iron in the boords. 1598 W. Shakespeare v. ii. 826
Impose some seruice on me for thy Loue. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
ii. iii. 82
For the loue o'God peace. 1661 W. Ames 12
Let none have occasion to say, that for the love of your goods, your liberty or your lives, any of you have forsaken the way of truth. 1710 J. Swift 8 Dec.
(1948)
I. 115
I begged Mr. Harley for the love of God to take some care about it. 1786 S. Henley tr. W. Beckford 96
For the love of Mahomet, my dear Fakreddin, have done! 1859 Ld. Tennyson Vivien in 115
A Table Round, That was to be, for love of God and man And noble deeds, the flower of all the world. 1882 Feb. 488/1
For the love of heaven do something for me or I'll die, so I will. 1913 J. London 69
For the love of your mother, hold your say, man. 1941 E. Linklater iii. 41
Can you not see that bloody machine-gun there? And for the love of God put your sights up. 1960 G. Durrell
(1965)
viii. 173
Don't, for the love of Allah, let her get into the china department. 1999 D. Mitchell 340
‘Oh for the love of God you two,’ muttered John. eOE—1999(Hide quotations) 1901 S. Crane in Jan. 77/2
‘For the love of Mike, madam, what ails you?’ he spluttered. 1909 21 Dec.
For the love of Mike, man, haven't you got a heart? 1922 J. Joyce iii. xviii. [Penelope] 727
O move over your big carcass out of that for the love of Mike listen to him. 1925 T. Dreiser I. i. ix. 57
For de love o' Mike, will you listen to dat, now. 1934 J. Brophy i. 14
For the love of mike..shut those blasted windows. 1941 8 91
Well, for the luvva Mike! 1942 3 Oct. 11
Tired? Well for the love of mike! What about me? 1957 A. MacNab xv. 181
For the love of Mike, let's hope he's brave. 1999 J. Burchill xii. 181
‘Why wasn't she wearing any fucking clothes!’ I scream at the top of my voice. ‘Because she was under a waterfall, for the love of Mike—’. 1901—1999(Hide quotations) a1400
(▸a1325)
(Trin. Cambr.)
l. 20380
Whi wepestou, what is þe? For alle loues [a1400 Vesp. For felaured, a1400 Gött. For felauschip] telle now me. c1450
(▸c1400)
(1881)
1587 (MED)
Sir, for alle loues, Lete me thy prisoneres seen! 1565 T. Cooper
Amabo..Of felowshippe: of all loues: I pray the: as euer thou wilte doe me good turne. 1600 W. Shakespeare ii. ii. 160
Speake, of all loues. I swoune almost with feare. 1618 J. Ussher Let. in R. Parr
(1686)
Coll. xxxiii. 64
I do intreat you of all Love, to look over the first Edition. 1624 R. Montagu 185
She..intreateth him that was worshipped vpon the Altar, of all loves, mercies, and works of wonder, to restore her vnto her health. a1627 T. Middleton
(1630)
iii. 31
O sweet Father, for Loues sake pittie me. c1646 in
(1874)
87/1
[10l.] which I desire you of all love to pay upon sight of this my letter. 1655 J. S. tr. B. della Rovere iii. iv. 63
For loves sake, doe not press me to relate So long a story now. 1748 S. Richardson IV. li. 257
For your own honour's sake, as well as for love's sake, join with me. 1793 C. Smith IV. viii. 196
Madam..begged him of all love to leave the country for fear of accidents. 1829 W. Whewell in J. M. Douglas
(1881)
133
Beg her of all love to establish herself in a more collegiate part of Cambridge. 1871 E. S. P. Ward iv. 86
Here a minute, for love's sake, Catty. 1906 B. Carman 51
Gentle spirit, grieve not so, for love's sake! 1925 A. Lowell 132
Christine clung to him with sobbing cries, Pleading for love's sake that he leave her not. 1973 P. O'Brian iv. 62
Am I in childbed, for all love, that I should be plagued, smothered, destroyed with caudle? 1992
(Nexis)
8 Sept. d8
Buckle up, for love's sake! a1400—1992(Hide quotations) ?1529 R. Hyrde tr. J. L. Vives i. xvi. sig. T. ij
They that marie for loue, shall leade their lyfe in sorowe. 1791 J. Boswell anno 1776 II. 45
[Johnson] It is commonly a weak man who marries for love. 1868 14 Mar. 340/2
It is only the old-fashioned sort, not girls of the period pur sang, that marry for love. 1946 G. Hopkins tr. F. Mauriac ix. 100
The dead woman was still in his eyes a heroine who might have died for love but would never have been false to her plighted word. 2005 6 Oct. 43/2
Lavransdatter′s..plot might be summarized as the story of a Daddy's girl who refuses Daddy's choice of a husband and marries for love. ?1529—2005(Hide quotations) [OE 43
Ne wandige na se mæssepreost..ne for feo, ne for nanes mannes lufon. c1400
(▸c1378)
W. Langland
(Laud 581)
(1869)
B. i. 101
And neuer leue hem for loue ne for lacchyng of syluer. a1450
(▸?a1300)
Richard Coer de Lyon
(Caius)
l. 1484 in K. Brunner
(1913)
159
Neyþer ffor loue, neyther ffor eye.]
?1576 A. Hall sig. G.iii
My Lords Balife wil haue carts for loue or money. 1590 C. S. 18
Then should not men eyther for loue or money haue pardons. 1609 T. Dekker sig. E3v
If you can (either for loue or money) prouide your selfe a lodging by the water side. 1691 T. Shadwell ii. i. 11
This lewd Cozen of ours..has had all the women in Town that are to be had for Love or Money. 1712 J. Swift 7 Aug.
(1948)
II. 553
No more Ghosts or Murders now for Love or Money. 1751 T. Smollett II. lxxxvi. 251
I'll be revenged of you, if there be a man to be had for love or money. 1837 F. Palgrave
(1844)
i. 18
Any person who, for love or money, might be induced to take the letter in his charge. 1869 F. A. March Pref. iv
He let me..use..Anglo-Saxon texts not elsewhere to be had for love or money. 1928 30 Aug. 8/4
It appears to be impossible to get a hold of a useful rabbit-chasing ferret, for love or money. 1966 H. Davies
(1967)
93
Gigolos are unobtainable in London for love or money, but unemployed actors and male models may be had by the desperate. 1997 C. B. Divakaruni 248
You couldn't buy them from a dealer, not for love or money. ?1576—1997(Hide quotations) 1678 S. Butler iii. i. 58
For these, at Beast, and L'hombre, [you] wooe, And play for Love, and Money too. 1813 41 296
A match of..single-stick, was played..for what is technically termed Love and a Belly-full. 1823 C. Lamb New Year's Eve in 63
I play over again for love, as the gamesters phrase it, games, for which I once paid so dear. 1843 C. Dickens
(1844)
xxxii. 383
Mrs. Todgers..proposed that..they should play for ‘love’. 1879 H. C. Merivale i. 4
Points be bothered, I plays for love. 1930 22 Oct. 8/3
She would be surprised to know that those games [sc. poker and twenty-one] were played for love. 1958 G. Greene
(1962)
154
He really does all this for love. You see, I saved his life once. a1969 J. Kerouac
(1992)
12
Jack Kerouac didn't write this book for money, he wrote it for love, he gave it away to the world. 2007
(Nexis)
30 Jan. 7
They were disappointed they were only playing ‘for love’ because scores wouldn't be officially registered. 1678—2007(Hide quotations) P2. In prepositional phrases with in, into, out of. OE tr.
(1958)
i. 2
Þa ða se fæder þohte hwam he hi mihte healicost forgifan, þa gefeol his agen mod on hyre lufe mid unrihtre gewilnunge [L. pater..incidit in amorem filiae suae]. c1500
(▸?a1437)
(1939)
xlv
So ferr ifallyng into lufis dance. ?1515
(de Worde)
sig. A.v
Than in to loues daunce we were brought. c1515 Ld. Berners tr.
(1882–7)
xlviii. 162
He was taken in loue. 1530 J. Palsgrave 544/2
I shall fall in love with her. 1569 R. Grafton I. iv. 37
Locryne fell in great phancy and loue with a faire Damosell. 1580 J. Lyly
(new ed.)
f. 63v
Of which water who so drinketh shall be caught in loue. 1596 E. Spenser iv. vi. Argum. sig. E8v
He sees her face; doth fall in loue, and soone from her depart. 1606 G. W. tr. Justinus xliii. 134
With the pleasantnesse of which, they were so taken in loue, that [etc.]. 1675 J. Bunyan 171
Can you behold a Crucified Christ and not Bleed, and not Mourn, and not fall in Love with him? 1724 M. Davys 165
You are the first Woman under Thirty that ever fell in love with a grey Beard. 1768 F. Burney
(1988)
I. 25
A young lady of fashion..has fallen in love with my cousin. 1785 E. Inchbald i. ii. 11
You are a fellow that falls in love with every face you see. 1833 T. S. Fay II. 7
The most wretchedly romantic youth that ever fell in love..and turned his face moonwards. 1887 H. R. Haggard iv. 31
John Niel was no chicken, nor very likely to fall in love with the first pretty face he met. 1928 21 Feb. 9/2
There is a suggestion that he has fallen in love with a ‘shiksa’ (a Christian girl). 1969 E. Cleaver 23
I fell in love with the Black Panther Party immediately upon my first encounter with it. 1999 S. Orbach
(2000)
170
She feared that Charles and Maria would really hit if off; they would fall in love again, want to keep the baby, shut her out. OE—1999(Hide quotations)
▸
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus
(BL Add.)
f. 146v
Whanne þe swan is in loue, sche secheþ the female and plesiþ hire wiþ byclippinge of þe necke. ?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen
(Rouen)
in
(1998)
I. 46
He is for ladyis in luf a right lusty schadow. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach i. f. 5
He would talke..of the stories of the Scripture, so sweetely..as I was woonderfully in loue with him. 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo
(1586)
iii. 140
A woman cannot possibly doe any thing yt may make her husband more in love with her, then to play the good huswife. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
ii. i. 76
I was in loue with my bed. 1664 S. Butler ii. i. 20
Quoth she, Y' have almost made m' in love With that, which did my pitty move. 1690 J. Locke iv. xvii. 347
He that believes, without having any Reason for believing, may be in love with his own Fansies. 1728 J. Gay i. x. 15
What, is the fool in love in earnest then? 1797 M. Robinson III. xlviii. 19
She is in love with you, my noble fellow. 1828 T. B. Macaulay Hallam's Constit. Hist. in Sept. 113
Its conduct, we are told, made the excellent Falkland in love with the very name of parliament. 1881 L. B. Walford xvii. 213
He was not himself in love. 1896 A. E. Housman xviii. 25
Oh, when I was in love with you, Then I was clean and brave. 1911 M. Beerbohm iii. 28
Her soul was as a flower in its opetide. She was in love. 1941 P. Hamilton ii. i. 52
He was head over heels in love with her as soon as he had a moment to be near her. 1969 J. McPhee 10
He is in love with his work. He knows the exact height and tensile strength of the corporate ladder. 1996 18 Apr. 80/1
They trudge dutifully through the tacky clichés of legal eagles in love. a1398—1996(Hide quotations) 1577 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin xli. f. 292
Thou bee so farre out of loue with thy sonne [Fr. tu es si desbordé contre ton fils], that thou art vnwylling too see him. 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo
(1586)
i. 10
Hee seemeth either too farre in loue with himselfe, or to farre out of loue with others. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
iv. iv. 202
I should haue scratch'd out your vnseeing eyes, To make my Master out of loue with thee. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
iii. i. 173
I am so out of loue with life. 1680 E. Fowler ii. vii. 80
Atonement is..a most effectual means, to this farther End, the making us out of love with Sin. 1722 D. Defoe i. i. 5
What's the matter, that you are so out of love with the World all on a sudden? 1753 S. Richardson III. xi. 83
Lord W.'s animosity to my father made him out of love with his name. 1796 S. Lee iv. i. 52
I, like thee, Grow out of love with reason. 1814 M. Edgeworth I. ix. 278
Bellamy tells me the strangest story of her having been, since I left London, in love and out of love with John Falconer. 1867 A. Cary x. 192
Perhaps every man who is out of love thinks pretty much after this fashion of his friend who is in love. 1890 J. Todhunter i. 8
Hope shuns me: I am out of love with life. 1914 B. Carman 72
Whatever can have come his way To put him out of love to-day? 1955 R. Campbell in E. W. Tedlock
(1960)
i. 45
He was never out of love with his beautiful wife and muse, Caitlin. 1992 A. V. Roberts xvi. 282
In and out of love with amazing regularity and unflagging enthusiasm, Polly was passionate about most things. 1577—1992(Hide quotations) 1596 J. Harington sig. Ciiijv
(I heard of a truth, that a great Lady that loued Parsnips very well, after she had heard how they grew, could neuer abide them) and I would be loath, to cause any to fall out of loue with so good a dish. a1653 H. Binning Serm. in
(1735)
284/2
God never begins to be pleasant and lovely to a Soul, til it begins to fall out of Love with itself, and grow lothsome in its own Eyes. 1701 R. Calder 38
The belief of the Resurrection will teach us to fall out of Love with the World,..there is nothing in it but Vanity and Miserie. 1856 5 July 34/2
No man falls out of love so safely as a man who falls in love with a beauty. 1877 July 530/1
He was always falling in love with any pretty face that struck his fancy, and then just as easily falling out of love with an unwounded heart. 1915 17 601
Despite our ingenuity, we do grow up, we grow old, we fall in love, we fall out of love. 2002 11 Feb. i. 13/2
There are signs that voters have fallen out of love with the party. 1596—2002(Hide quotations) 1631 J. Weever 417
He also departed this world, in the loue of all good men. a1635 R. Sibbes
(1638)
iii. 54
I know I am in the love of Christ: these are favours that hee bestowes onely upon his owne. 1647 S. Richardson Ep. Ded., sig. )(3
The people of God are in the love of God. 1664 W. Smith 28
We are in the love of God, and have fervent love to him, and one another. 1631—1664(Hide quotations) P3. With to make. a. to make love
[after Old Occitan far amor (13th cent.), Middle French, French faire l'amour (16th cent.; 1622 with reference to sexual intercourse), or Italian far l'amore]
. 1567 G. Fenton tr. M. Bandello f. 155v
The attire of a Cortisan, or woman makynge loue [Fr. femme qui fait l'Amour]. 1580 J. Lyly
(new ed.)
f. 34v
A Phrase nowe there is which belongeth to your Shoppe boorde, that is to make loue. 1600 W. Shakespeare i. i. 107
Demetrius..Made loue to Nedars daughter. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
v. ii. 58
Why man, they did make loue to this imployment. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
iii. i. 125
Thence it is, That I to your assistance doe make loue. 1663 A. Cowley ii
Thou golden Shower of a true Jove! Who does in thee descend, and Heav'n to Earth make love! 1695 W. Congreve iv. i. 70
Nay, Mr. Tattle, If you make Love to me, you spoil my design, for I intended to make you my Confident. 1712 J. Addison No. 517. ¶2
The Widow Lady whom he had made Love to. 1768 L. Sterne I. 79
You have been making love to me all this while. 1784 R. Bage II. 318
You..may make love, and play your pitty patties. 1829 W. Cobbett iv. §181
It is an old saying, ‘Praise the child, and you make love to the mother’. a1845 T. Hood
(1846)
I. 213
Oh there's nothing in life like making love. 1860 9 306
How often..do we make love to the charms of cousins and avuncular expectations. 1887 W. Besant xiv. 112
He would crack the crown of any man who ventured to make love to his girl. 1906 H. Green 209
I thought I'd die laughing at his making love..and me with a husband doing his bit back in Auburn. 1927 L. Mayer vii. 43
Honestly those nobilities can make love divinely. 1948 W. S. Maugham
(1958)
ii. 18
Her lover Diego no longer came to the window at night to make love to her through the iron grille. 1972 B. Everitt v. 38
‘Are we conversing or making love?’.. ‘Let's go into the slow lane for a minute.’ 1991 S. Cisneros 153
Ay! To make love in Spanish, in a manner as intricate and devout as la Alhambra. 1567—1991(Hide quotations) 1927 J. S. Bolan Deposition in L. Schlissel
(1997)
218
Jimmy embraces Margie LaMont and goes through with her the business of making love to her by lying on top of her on a couch, each embracing the other. 1929 E. Hemingway xviii. 114
Besides all the big times we had many small ways of making love and we tried putting thoughts in the other one's head while we were in different rooms. 1934 ‘G. Orwell’ iv. 54
Why is master always so angry with me when he has made love to me? 1950 M. Peake xxix. 173
One of the Carvers made love to her and she had a baby. 1967 B. Wright tr. R. Queneau xiv. 151
When you make love on a bunk,..the man has to bump his head. 1971 15 Jan. 17/1
Couples who make love frequently are more likely to have sons than those who do so less often. 1986 D. Johnson
(1987)
i. 17
Making love with him was like passing through a patch of fog. 1999 T. Parsons
(2000)
ii. 19
We were making love on the floor—or the futon, as Gina called it. 1927—1999(Hide quotations) 1965 12 Mar. 19/1
You've seen those bumper stickers... And the latest in Berkeley, protesting Viet Nam, simply say ‘Make Love—Not War.’ 1966 2 Sept. 12/2
They intend to distribute badges stating ‘Make Love, not War’—a slogan used by C.N.D. 1970 14 Aug. b1/1
People [at Woodstock] got together.., shared food, water and dope, enjoyed music and conversation and made love, not war. 1982 27 Jan. 8/7
Dr Comfort..believes that it [sc. recreational sex] may drain away aggression, as in the hippy slogan ‘Make Love Not War’. 2005 M. O'Connor xx. 158
All those big houses in the subdivisions are filled with former hippies who said Make Love Not War and Never Trust Anyone over Thirty. 2007
(Nexis)
24 Mar. (Sport section) 10
Football is one of the few areas of national life where Arabs and Jews happily work and play together... ‘It shows people that we should make love and not war.’ 1965—2007(Hide quotations) 1615 F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher iv. i. sig. I4
As you finde him setled, remember my loue and seruice to his Grace. 1618 T. Sherwin Let. in S. Purchas
(1625)
III. viii. 733
Remember my loue to all at Faire-hauen. 1630 J. Winthrop
(1825)
(modernized text)
I. 378
Commend me to all our friends. My love and blessing to your brother and sisters [etc.]. 1635 in B. Cusack
(1998)
247
With Mr Gorges loue and myen to my daughter and your selfe. 1665 Earl of Marlborough 3
I beseech you commend my love to all mine acquaintance. 1684 in B. Cusack
(1998)
220
May lowf to yow and Robert Goodien. 1742 20
Give my dear Love to my dear Band Brethren. 1765 W. Cowper 14 Aug.
(1979)
I. 111
My Love to all your Family. 1773 J. Wesley 7 Oct.
(1931)
VI. 49
My wife sends her love; she has her old companion the gout. 1785 Lady Newdigate Let. May in A. E. Newdigate-Newdegate
(1898)
iv. 67
Love from all here Adieu. 1793 W. Cowper 24 Feb.
(1984)
IV. 298
With Mary's kind love. 1819 R. Southey
(1856)
III. 3
Love from all to all, and kisses as many as you please to give to the kissable part of the family. 1836 C. Dickens
(1837)
ix. 89
Love to Tuppy. 1854 W. Collins
(1861)
183
‘I will write and comfort your mother this very afternoon ——’ ‘Give her my love’, interposed Zack. 1875 ‘M. Twain’ 23 Nov.
(1917)
I. xv. 268
We-all send love to you-all. 1911 W. Owen 20 Sept.
(1967)
83
Love to Mary and me brethren twain. 1921 A. Huxley 21 Nov.
(1969)
205
I will telephone or write about both these dates. Love from Aldous. 1949 D. Smith
(U.K. ed.)
xi. 188
Dear Cassandra, it was nice of you to write... Love from Neil. 1970 T. Southern iii. iv. 151
‘Hans sends his love,’ Angela was saying, across the candlelit dining table. 2004
(Nexis)
11 Aug. 31
Give my love to Daddy if you see him. 1615—2004(Hide quotations) OE Ælfric
(Royal)
(1997)
ix. 252
Ærest he him ondræt hellewite & bewepð his synna syððan he nimð eft lufe to gode: þonne onginð he to murcnienne & þincð him to lang hwænne he beo genumen of þyses lifes earfoðnyssum, & gebroht to ecere reste. OE tr. Vitas Patrum in B. Assmann
(1889)
197
Ða gelicode him sona ðurh deofles tihtince þæs hæþenan sacerdos dohtor. Began þa niman swyðe micle lufe to hyre and to hyre fæder gewænde and hy him to gemæccan gyrnde.
▸
c1440 S. Scrope tr. C. de Pisan
(St. John's Cambr.)
(1970)
66
Meede..took so greete loue to Jason that be þe enchauntementis þat sche couthe..made charmes & lerned Jason to enchaunte. 1694 N. H. 48/1
Another Dolphin, in the same manner, took love to a Child upon the Sea coast near to Pusoll. OE—1694(Hide quotations) P6. Proverbial uses. a. c1405
(▸c1395)
G. Chaucer
(Hengwrt)
(2003)
l. 354
For loue is blynd alday and may nat see. 1600 W. Shakespeare ii. vi. 36
Loue is blinde . 1661 J. Glanvill xiii. 119
And, that Love is blind, is extensible beyond the object of Poetry. 1746 A. Arbuthnot 110
No, no, said Jenny; though Love is blind, I never heard that he was deaf. 1848 E. Bennett xi. 94
Love is blind, says the old proverb. 1898 J. D. Brayshaw 35
They say as luv is blind. 1965 J. M. Brewer 166
I don't make love by the garden gate, For love is blind, but the neighbors ain't. 2000 J. J. Connolly
(2004)
62
Aha, makes sense to you but love is blind, my friend. c1405—2000(Hide quotations) [1578 J. Lyly f. 31v
Anye impietie may lawfully be committed in loue, which is lawlesse.]
1620 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes xxi. 138
Loue and warre are all one [Sp. el amor y la guerra son vna misma cosa]: and as in warre it is lawful to vse sleights and stratagems to ouercome the enemy: So in amorous strifes and competencies, Impostures and iuggling tricks are held for good, to attaine to the wished end. 1717 W. Taverner
(new ed.)
ii. 38
All advantages are fair in Love and War. 1789 I. xvi. 140
Tho' this was a confounded lie, my friend, ‘all is fair in love and war’. 1845 G. P. R. James I. iv. 95
In love and war, every stratagem is fair, they say. 1850 F. E. Smedley xlix. 434
All's fair in love and war, you know. 1905 9 June 2/5
New Yorker so busy wooing he forgot he had no funds. ‘All is fair in love and war,’ holds good in fiction, but not in the eyes of the police. 1979 ‘J. Gash’ v. 45
All's fair in love, war and antiques. 2005 Aug. 218/1
All's fair in love and war, so flick the trip switch in the fuse box. Without electricity, he's forced to surrender his console and get back to basics. 1620—2005(Hide quotations) 1474 W. Caxton tr.
(1883)
iii. iii. 97
Herof men saye a comyn prouerbe in england, that loue lasteth as longe as the money endureth.
▸
?a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Cock & Fox l. 512 in
(1981)
23
The prouerb sayis, ‘Als gude lufe cummis as gais.’ a1513 R. Fabyan
(1516)
I. cxv. f. liii
Hote Loue is soone colde. 1573 J. Sanford tr. L. Guicciardini f. 98v
Foure things cannot be kept close, Loue, the cough, fyre, and sorrowe. 1584 R. Greene sig. B.ivv
Loue doth much but money doth all. 1611 R. Cotgrave at Amour
Loue, and the Cough cannot be hidden. a1618 W. Raleigh
(1664)
35
Love needs no teaching. 1678 J. Ray
(ed. 2)
55
Love ne're delights in a sorrowful man. 1732 T. Fuller 140
Love and Pride stock Bedlam. 1777 C. Dibdin i. viii. 16
According unto the proverb, love maketh a wit of the fool. 1863 ‘G. Eliot’ I. i. i. 102
If there are two things not to be hidden—love and a cough—I say there is a third, and that is ignorance. 1881 14 Apr. 1/4
It is said that love conquers all things. 1941 A. Kreymborg Introd. 4
‘The path of true love never runs smooth’ in the drama. 1994 R. Davies 458
Love and a cough cannot be hid. 2007
(Nexis)
8 Mar. 1
Many people say ‘love conquers all’ but that's not always true. 1474—2007(Hide quotations) P7. there's no love lost between them (also us, etc.) . 1600 B. Jonson ii. i. sig. E.ii
Car... Hee loues you well Signior. Sog. There shall be no loue lost Sir. c1640 R. Davenport Surv. Sci. in
(1890)
327
Oh my sweete! Sure there is no loue lost when you two meete. 1696 W. Bates
(1699)
8
Dr. Busby..took a particular Kindness to him,..and there was no Love lost betwixt them. 1706 P. Motteux
(1749)
III. 266
I love him well, and there's no love lost between us. 1749 T. Smollett tr. A. R. Le Sage III. ix. vii. 229
I have a friendship for you..And I can assure thee, child, (said I), there is no love lost [Fr. que tu n'aimes pas un ingrat]. 1773 O. Goldsmith iv. 77
As for murmurs, mother, we grumble a little now and then, to be sure. But there's no love lost between us. 1824 N. Drake II. 54
Give me your hand..and let me tell you..there is no love lost between us. 1828 C. Lamb New Year's Coming of Age in 2nd Ser. 8
There was no love lost for that matter. 1839 S. Lover ii. i. 17
I'm obleeged to you, Misther Bowlt; and in throth there's no love lost between us, for I respect you, and always did. 1600—1839(Hide quotations) ?1622 J. Taylor Trav. Twelve-pence in
(1630)
i. 71
They loue me not, which makes 'em quickly spend me. But there's no great loue lost 'twixt them and mee, We keepe asunder and so best agree. 1751 S. Richardson
(ed. 3)
III. xxv. 134
He must needs say, there was no love lost between some of my family and him; but he had not deserved of them what they had of him. 1797 I. xlii. 217
I do not like him at all, and I believe there is no love lost between us. 1858 W. M. Thackeray I. xvii. 134
There was not a great deal of love lost between Will and his half-sister. 1866 W. D. Howells 121
Americans do not like these people and I believe there is no love lost on the other side. 1889 T. A. Trollope III. 91
Between Italian and French radicals there is really no love lost. 1916 J. Buchan xiii. 203
Once or twice he ran counter to Moellendorff, and I could see there was no love lost between these two. 1956 J. Lister xvi. 273
There was no love lost between the seamen and soldiers of the mother country and the colonists, and the sooner the expedition moved on, the happier everyone would be. 1997 ‘Q’ 54
There was no love lost between the two of us. We'd never got on. ?1622—1997(Hide quotations) [a1413
(▸c1385)
G. Chaucer
(Pierpont Morgan)
(1881)
ii. l. 668
How myght it be That she so lyghtly louede Troylus Right for þe firste syght. a1593 C. Marlowe
(1598)
i. 175
Where both deliberat, the loue is slight, Who euer lov'd, that lov'd not at first sight?]
1664 T. Killigrew
(title)
The princesse: or, Love at first sight. 1753 S. Richardson IV. xviii. 144
Love at first sight, answered Sir Charles, must indicate a mind prepared for impression, and a sudden gust of passion. 1797 T. Holcroft V. vi. 70
Why this seems like love at first sight! 1822 W. Hazlitt II. xvi. 354
I do not think that what is called Love at first sight is so great an absurdity as it is sometimes imagined to be. 1839 C. Brontë Let. 4 Aug. in E. C. Gaskell
(1857)
I. viii. 199
Well! thought I, I have heard of love at first sight, but this beats all! 1868 W. Collins I. i. vii. 91
You have heard of beautiful young ladies falling in love at first sight, and have thought it natural enough. 1952 18 273
We know that what we have here is no drama of romantic love-at-first-sight. 1961 C. McCullers iv. 89
In early youth, love at first sight, that epitome of passion, turns you into a zombie. 1975 D. Bagley xvi. 138
Don't you believe in love at first sight? 2005 12 Feb. (Life section) 4/4
Phenylethylamine (PEA): A neurotransmitter which often causes the lover's ‘high’ many interpret as love at first sight. 1664—2005(Hide quotations) 1819 24 Sept. 1/1
A concert, selected from the Scotch and Irish Melodies... Song, ‘Love's young Dream’. 1821 T. Moore Love's Young Dream in i. 77
But there's nothing half so sweet in life, As love's young dream! 1898 J. K. Jerome 155
The stout lady, now regarded as a would-be blighter of love's young dream, was hustled into the back seat. 1920 J. Galsworthy i. 33
I don't mean any tosh about love's young dream; but I do like being friends. 1937 D. L. Sayers xv. 307
There now!.. If there ain't love's young dream a-comin' up the path. 1960 B. Kops 54
Look at them, love's young dream. 1974 P. G. Wodehouse iii. 20
I was helping a pal to celebrate the happy conclusion of love's young dream, and it may be that I became a mite polluted. 2001 J. Paisley 54
Noo I hink we shouldnae make nae mair noise an disturb love's young dream up aheid. 1819—2001(Hide quotations) 1745 C. Coffey i. vi. 34
Love in a Cottage contentedly flows, And e'ery dear Minute is blest. 1763 G. Colman i. 9
To talk of living on bread and water, and the comforts of love in a cottage. 1812 M. Edgeworth Absentee iv, in V. 302
Lady Clonbrony had not..the slightest notion, how anybody..could prefer, to a good house..and a proper establishment, what is called love in a cottage. 1878 Dec. 274/1
Young people tried love in a cottage, and dwelt in dove-cotes beside their prouder kinsfolk. 1894 H. H. Gardener 239
Here's more love in a cottage business for you. 1938 W. Empson i. 55
She had chosen love in a cottage and could stick to it. 1954 J. A. Banks viii. 116
George Vavasor, Phineas Finn, and Frank Greystock were not faced with the dilemma of love in a cottage versus luxury in the hall. 2006
(Nexis)
1 July 18
A choice between a triumphant return to high finance and love in a cottage. 1745—2006(Hide quotations) [1705 J. S. x. 58
Love in Disguise, and how esteemed, and the Danger there is in it more than when it appears in its naked Form.]
1877 E. S. Dallas 282
Love in disguise is a calf's heart stuffed, then surrounded with forcemeat, next rolled in vermicelli, lastly deposited in a baking dish..and sent to the oven. 1937 5 June 16/5
‘Love in Disguise’ concealed within it a stuffed sheep's heart—an eighteenth-century culinary jest. 1958 W. Bickel tr. R. Hering 451
Love in disguise, calf's heart, soaked in water, larded, boiled until tender, dried, coated with veal forcemeat, rolled in crushed raw noodles, roasted in butter in oven and basted frequently. 1995
(Nexis)
23 July vii. 14
British cuisine has always sounded entertaining. But, like love-in-disguise (which turns out to be baked, stuffed calf heart), what winds up on the plate can be harder to swallow. 1877—1995(Hide quotations) P12. the love that dare not speak its name and variants. 1894 A. Douglas Two Loves in Dec. 28
I am the love that dare not speak its name. 1895 O. Wilde in
(1912)
ii. xiii. 271
The ‘Love that dare not speak its name’ in this century is such a great affection of an elder for a younger man as there was between David and Jonathan... It is in this century..so much misunderstood that it may be described as the ‘Love that dare not speak its name’. 1895 M. Beerbohm Let. 3 May in
(1964)
102
[Oscar's] speech about the Love that dares not tell his name was simply wonderful, and carried the whole court right away, quite a tremendous burst of applause. 1950 29 Jan. 6/1
Gide's second proposition, that civilization benefits by toleration of ‘the love that dares not speak its name.’ 1976 28 Oct.
Their ‘loves’..were of the offbeat persuasion—you know, ‘the love that dare not speak its name’. 2001
(Nexis)
5 June 41
We know too little about plural marriage to say that it inevitably results in pain... What gives Utah the right to repress this love that dare not speak its name? 2002 H. M. Benshoff in M. Jancovich ii. vii. 99
The ‘love that dare not speak its name’ remains a shadowy Other which conversely works to bolster the equally constructed idea of a normative heterosexuality. 1894—2002(Hide quotations) 1977 27 May 2/8
Government ministers were privately ‘terribly fond of the arts’. Could that..be the sort of love that dare not speak its name? 1989
(Nexis)
13 Dec. (Sport section) 28
In an age of hooliganism..football enthusiasm became the love that dare not speak its name. 1994
(Nexis)
25 Sept.
(Late Sports Final ed.)
(Show section) 13
It's the love that dares not speak its name. No sane rocker would admit to loving the Carpenters. 2004 A. King i. i. 11
‘Slumming’, whereby a culturally respectable reader takes pleasure in mass-market reading, was in the nineteenth-century a love that dare not speak its name. 1977—2004(Hide quotations) Compounds A selection of some of the more significant compounds is given here. C1. General attributive. 1820 P. B. Shelley i. i. 56
Dreaming like a love-adept. 1918 D. H. Lawrence 53
The delicate love-adept Can warm her hands and invite her soul. 1969 L. P. Hartley
(title)
The love-adept: a variation on a theme. 1820—1969(Hide quotations) 1612 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes iv. xxiv. 581
In Loue adventures [Sp. en los casos de amor] no one is accomplished with more facilitie, then that which is fauoured by the womans desire. 1653 T. Urquhart tr. F. Rabelais liv. 238
Here enter not, fond makers of demurres In love-adventures. 1710 Ld. Shaftesbury 114
In relation to common Amours and Love-Adventures. 1772 in G. Keate
(1781)
172
These Indentures Now settle,—sign,—and seal all Love Adventures. 1821 C. Lamb in Jan. 5/2
It is better that I should have pined away..than that so passionate a love-adventure should be lost. 1900 W. C. Russell
(title)
Rose Island. The strange story of a love adventure at sea. 1965 C. N. Eze
(title)
Little John in the love adventure. 1612—1965(Hide quotations) 1897 18 471
The Temple of Glass..follows the rules of the fashionable Love-Allegory. 1933 R. Tuve iv. 189
All this is to be found in the love-allegory of the Golden Targe. 2003 98 p. xxxv
Vogt..credits him [sc. Gottfried von Strassburg] with the creation of the secular love allegory. 1897—2003(Hide quotations) 1565 T. Cooper at Amor
Componere amores..To make loue balades. a1654 A. Ross
(1655)
viii. 238
The Canticles was not Scripture, but a Love Ballade between Solomon and one of his Concubines. a1668 W. Davenant Distresses ii. i in
(1673)
iii. 42/1
He makes My love Ballads. The merry Madrigal For Maids, and the Vicious Virgin, were both his. 1876 Aug. 565/1
Such a poem as will puzzle the warblers of ‘love ballads’ to unravel. 2000 40 521
The rhythm is singsong, in the familiar pattern of love ballads. 1565—2000(Hide quotations) a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
iii. vii. 72
He is not lulling on a lewd Loue-Bed [1597 day bed]. 1642 S. Rutherford To Rdr. sig. a2
O that Christ would enlarge his Love bed. a1788 W. J. Mickle Siege of Marseilles in
(1794)
iv. iii. 308
Leave th' Adulterer in triumphant riot In your love bed, drunk with Erminia's charm's. 1874 A. C. Swinburne i. i. 41
I had rather the close moon and stars anight Lit me to love-bed. 1934 D. Thomas 19
Invisible, your clocking tides Break on the lovebeds of the weeds. a1963 S. Plath
(1971)
33
Musky as a lovebed the morning after. a1616—a1963(Hide quotations) a1350 in G. L. Brook
(1968)
51 (MED)
Suete Iesu..hou swete bueþ þi loue-bonde. c1400
(Bodl.)
50
Tak to þe þe swete childe and swetliche swaþ hit in his gradil wiþ swete loue bondes. 1595 W. Lisle tr. S. G. de Senlis in tr. G. de S. Du Bartas 23
The knot and loue-bond of nations [Fr. l'vnion et amitié des peuples], is so loosened and broke, that scarce is there founde any remedie for it. a1869 R. Leighton
(1875)
ii. ii. 69
I'll break this love-bond slowly, so that he May never know the breaking. 1951 L. MacNeice tr. J. W. von Goethe ii. v. 295
Rapture which yearns ever, Love-bond which burns ever. 2000 38 477/2
Discusses how human economics grows out of natural increase; the love bond and the meaning of zero. a1350—2000(Hide quotations) 1798 S. T. Coleridge Nightingale in W. Wordsworth & S. T. Coleridge 66
He were fearful, that an April night Would be too short for him to utter forth His love-chant, and disburthen his full soul Of all its music! 1884 24 Nov. 2/2
The young girl..sang..a seemingly plaintive love chant. 2001
(Nexis)
22 Sept. (Entertainm. section) c3
A series of mock meditations, yogic exercises and..tantric love chants. 1798—2001(Hide quotations) a1627 T. Middleton
(1950)
i. ii. 24
Thou com'st for a loue-charme now? 1708 P. Bayly I. 59
He sent to Market for a kind of Fish which they judg'd to be a sovereign Love-charm. 1821 W. Scott II. v. 133
They are spoken in a mad tale of fairies, love-charms, and I wot not what besides. 1948 B. G. M. Sundkler vi. 222
Various Native ‘Chemist’ shops sell..love-charms. 1994 Spring 110
Lucille made love charms from their petals to put in bath water. a1627—1994(Hide quotations) c1450
(▸c1380)
G. Chaucer
(Fairf. 16)
(1878)
l. 1235
Ther saugh I fames olde and yonge Pipers of alle Duche tonge To lerne loue Daunces sprynges Reus and these straunge thynges. 1712 J. White 58
How doth this still..confirm that Account before given of a Love Design or project, a mask of Love, a Love Dance? 1911 J. A. Thomson ii. 233
The long larval period of two or three years in the water, and the short aerial love-dance lasting for an evening or two. 2001
(Brisbane ed.)
1 May 3/2
Her exotic Indian love dance was described as ‘undancerly’ and unco-ordinated. c1450—2001(Hide quotations) 1629 J. Ford iv. 67
The Incense of my loue-desires, are flam'd Vpon an Altar of more constant proofe. 1657 J. Harington
(ed. 3)
182
More then King my self I prize In this new-rays'd Love-desire. 1691 E. Taylor 359
Nature's Property should..become not a dark raging poisonful Hunger, but a Love desire. 1629—1691(Hide quotations) 1591 J. Harington in tr. L. Ariosto xxvii. 223
(note)
It alludes to a like thing, written by Plutarch in his loue discourses. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
ii. iv. 125
I know you ioy not in a Loue-discourse . 1687 R. L'Estrange tr. A. de Castillo Solórzano in viii. 462
He entred into some Love Discourses with her. 1787 J. Cobb 23
A confab between Romeo and Juliet—a bit of love discourse, eh? a1864 J. Clare
(1993)
125
The maids resumed their love discourse anew. 1990 55 99
In the Petrarchan love discourse molding the European poetic imagination of the Renaissance. 1591—1990(Hide quotations) a1586 Sir P. Sidney
(1591)
35
In hir necke you did loue ditties peepe. 1694 N. H. at Singing
A Fidler..gained a fortune..by procuring and humming over some Love ditties. a1711 T. Ken Christophil in
(1721)
I. 476
I..Who for Two thousand Years, or rather more, Have sung the like Love-ditties o're and o're. 1798 W. Jackson xxv. 358
That peculiarly fine melody appropriated to the hundredth psalm, was sung to a popular love-ditty. 1808 W. Scott i. vii. 29
And frame love ditties passing rare. 1890 E. S. Hartland
(1891)
i. 7
The women at their wheels; and while they spin they sing love ditties. 2005 7 Mar. 66/1
But the tunes are mere grains of sand, while the lyrics are abysmal, winsome little love ditties. a1586—2005(Hide quotations) [c1390 Swete Ihesu Now
(Vernon)
l. 20 in C. Horstmann
(1896)
II. 10
Þou make in me þi loue-dreem [v.r. luf-drem].]
1602 T. Dekker 24
Dreame of her, loue-dreames are nere too deepe. 1794 T. Holcroft I. xvi. 218
Olivia in danger: love dreams: fanatic horrors. 1866 R. D. Blackmore
(1881)
xii. 48
A maiden with the love dream nestling beneath the bridal faldetta. 1932 N. Coward Younger Generation in B. Day
(1998)
153/3
Though the world is well lost for love dreams There's wisdom above dreams To compensate mothers and wives. 2005 P. Clifford 307
Truly figured in the West's finest love dream is the narcissistic heaven dreamed of by the eternal children the lovers have succeeded in remaining. 1602—2005(Hide quotations) 1856 May 557
What is an opera without a love duel between the tenor and the baritone? 1932 R. Campbell ii. 44
The great ‘Lou Pouvenco’..bore a small fortune between his horns, until he was killed in a love-duel by a younger rival. 2001 G. Adelman iii. 123
He evokes in his love duel..Ivan's relationship with Katerina. 1856—2001(Hide quotations) 1863 Sept. 305
A similar defect..strikes me in the love-duet which succeeds. 1975 12 Feb. 23/6
The dance of Discord and War..has to be reconciled by the love duet. 1863—1975(Hide quotations) 1616 B. Holyday tr. Persius sig. B6
Weak Love-elegies, such as Rome's nobles speak [L. non siqua elegidia crudidictarunt proceres?]. 1684 N. Lee sig. A4v
(advt.)
Virgil's Eclogues, Ovid's Love-Elegies, Odes of Horace, and other Authors. 1753 T. Francklin 11
(note)
Hammond, author of Love elegies. 1783 H. Blair I. iv. 69
Sonnets, Pastorals, and Love Elegies. 1853 F. E. A. Gasc 73
I have some love elegies which..I mean to give to the public. 2003 R. K. Gibson in tr. Ovid 378
Domina, the standard term for mistress in love-elegy. 1616—2003(Hide quotations) c1540
(▸?a1400)
(2002)
f. 49v
Lokyng on lenght with a loue ee. 1696 J. Lead sig. *F2
The beauteous Love-Eye burning in the Heart; From whence Loves Centres endless multlply. 1775 R. B. Sheridan iv. iv. 84
Her love-eye was fix'd on me—t'other—her eye of duty, was finely obliqued. 1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty xx. 182
I thought this had to be part of a build-up and the love eyes had to come later. c1540—1956(Hide quotations) 1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil iv. 78
Or fro this hoat looue fits I shal bee shortlye retrayted [L. vel eo me solvat amantem]. 1679 J. Goodman
(1713)
ii. i. 150
Taken with an agony of mind, or a kind of love-fit. 1713 C. Johnson
(ed. 2)
ii. i. 27
I'll..In this Lethargick Love-Fit steal his Crown. 1859 ‘H. Lee’
(1860)
vii. 226
He had discovered one or two mature Phyllises..upon whom he retaliated the luckless experience he had gained in his first love-fit. 1906 6 28
When the love-fit was on between individual males and females. 1582—1906(Hide quotations) a1626 J. Davies
(1869)
I. 470
(title)
Love-flight. 1936 29 307
The love-flights of many species depend on a subtle change in the character of the wing-beat, most marked perhaps in the waders. a1626—1936(Hide quotations) 1590 T. Lodge sig. Nv
In elder time..the Shepheards Loue-gifts were apples and chestnuts. 1645 S. Rutherford xxv. 312
Christ is Gods highest love-gift. 1717 E. Biddle Augustus in i. 24
His liberal Love-Gifts would undo an Empire. 1876 R. Browning 279
The simpleton must ostentatiously Display a ring, the Cardinal's love-gift. 1987 J. Saltman 41
A love-gift from the girl's grandmother—seeds to be planted and to bloom as flowers in the new land. 1590—1987(Hide quotations) 1652 E. Benlowes x. iii. 179
No Grandee Patron court I, nor entice Love-glances from enchanting Eyes. 1820 J. Keats Lamia i, in 9
The love-glances of unlovely eyes. 1952 R. Campbell tr. 146
The love-glance of a courtesan. 1652—1952(Hide quotations) 1667 G. Digby iv. 50
O the unlucky Star That leads a Lady, engaged in love intrigues To take a new Attendant! 1726 W. Law
(ed. 2)
11
It consists of Love-Intrigues, blasphemous Passions, prophane Discourses, [etc.]. 1798 W. Render tr. A. von Kotzebue iii. 110
Treason! Ships! Love intrigues! Flight! Conspiracy! 1893 H. B. Clarke 163
The plot invariably centres round the love intrigue of persons in the middle or upper classes of life. 2002 57 196
Valerius immediately befriends Sextus, and as a consequence becomes involved in a love intrigue. 1667—2002(Hide quotations) 1637 S. Rutherford 10 June
(1848)
clxxv. 328
Any little communion with him [sc. Christ], one of his love-looks, should be my begun heaven. 1680 E. Settle vi. 113
They interchange glances of Love-looks, while the Marchant is preparing for his intended visit. 1757 in
(1758)
86/1
Soft blushes in her cheeks arise And love looks languid in her eyes. 1904 June 305/2
Do you think I don't know a love-look when I see it? 1943 M. Lavin 36
It was love-talk and love-looks that held down this man. 1637—1943(Hide quotations) 1754 H. Walpole
(1846)
III. 64
That living academy of love-lore, my Lady Vane. 1846 R. W. Emerson Jrnl. in
(1971)
442
Tremulous with love-lore. 1962 7 June 16/3
William Gerhardi speaks of ‘love-lore’. 1754—1962(Hide quotations) 1809
(title)
Royal love lyrics, from royal love letters, with notes and illustrations. 1856 3 372
The love-lyric..is probably the most intense expression of primitive passion. 1974 P. Dickinson ii. 44
You get a basic story, but inside it you get dramatic sections and love lyrics. 1809—1974(Hide quotations) 1823 3 722
Marriage has been proposed for love-madness. 1884 Dec. 134/1
Love-madness is nothing new. 1939 tr. E. N. Marais ix. 110
Young baboons during their period of love-madness lost all their usual fear of man. 1823—1939(Hide quotations) 1826 T. Roscoe IV. 7
Love-magic; some centuries ago. 1949 M. Mead iii. 56
How the..human sacrifice or love-magic fitted into the whole. 2002 W. H. Goodenough xvii. 253
Young people frequently resorted to love magic. 1826—2002(Hide quotations) 1781 Mar. 110/2
Where there is a lasting love Marriage, it would be exceedingly distressing to both of the parties to be convinced that where death does them part, their union is dissolved for ever. 1850 W. M. Thackeray II. xxi. 209
Look at your love-marriages... The love-match people are the most notorious of all for quarrelling afterwards. 1990 V. S. Naipaul i. 67
He had a sister who had made a love marriage a year or so before. 1781—1990(Hide quotations) ?1589 T. Nashe sig. B
Profound Cliffe..broke vp his brotherly loue-meeting abruptly, when the spirite had but newly moued him. 1656 Duchess of Newcastle x. 346
A procuring Bawd is to make Love-matches, and contrive Love-meetings. 1760 C. Johnstone II. xi. 229
I told you that the attempt had been made upon the king, as he was returning from a love-meeting. 1864 A. Daly & F. Wood i. 19
A meeting—a love meeting with a woman of fashion! Happy Beaujolais! 1928 D. H. Lawrence xiii. 234
It was not the right sort of heart to take to a love-meeting. ?1589—1928(Hide quotations) 1621 R. Burton iii. i. i. i. 495
Some or other..will much discommend some part of this Treatise of Loue Melancholy. 1694 N. H. at Occations of falling in Love
Occasion, as we have said, is very much contributing to Love-Melancholy. 1798 C. Lucas xv. 186
They also explained to him..the young Captain's love melancholy. 1832 J. P. Kennedy I. xxvi. 276
Melancholy,—that is, your love-melancholy,—wears divers antics. a1963 L. MacNeice
(1964)
v. 162
The astrological causes of love-melancholy. 1621—a1963(Hide quotations) 1882 9 Dec. 1579
His [sc. Sterne's] lovemongering was altogether contemptible. 1882—1882(Hide quotations) ?a1300 St. Eustace
(Digby)
l. 111 in C. Horstmann
(1881)
2nd Ser. 213
Toward Egipte hy gunnen fare, ffore I-bounden al wiþ kare, And wiþ loue mourninge Of Crist þat alle þinge shop. 1845 May 639/2
He withdraws himself from all feasts, societies, and throngs of men, to dedicate himself to love-mourning. ?a1300—1845(Hide quotations) 1650 A. Cowley i. iii. sig. A4v
I have two or three Love-odes ready made. 1689 M. Prior 50
Pigs might squeak love-odes, dogs bark satire. a1745 T. Warton
(1748)
139
(title of poem)
An American Love-Ode. 1792 S. T. Coleridge 13 Feb.
(1956)
I. 28
My tiny love ode possesses no other property in the world. 1859 C. M. Bain 142
(title)
Rural love ode. 1650—1859(Hide quotations) 1582 T. Watson To Rdr. sig. A4
In respect of my trauaile in penning these louepassions. 1649 R. Baron 47
Palme trees are of both sexes, and expresse not a sympathy, but a Love passion. 1753 at Hope
It is the hope of that [sc. enjoyment], which is the true basis of the love-passion. 1858 C. Lamb in Dec. 79/1
This drowsy Deity, who certainly was first invented in drink, as sloth and luxury are commonly the first movers in these idle love-passions. 1582—1858(Hide quotations) 1640 J. Gough iv. ii. sig. H4v
O I feare This kindnesse is some love plot on my deare. 1672 J. Dryden ii. i. ii. 83
But your Love-plot I'le quickly countermine. 1795 tr. Flareau iii. ii. 37
Over turn their deep laid love plots by a speedy murther. 1871 D. H. Strother xvi. 298
A story without a love-plot is like a bush without a rose. 1995
(Nexis)
1 July 8
She will be cheating on her husband Frank all over again in the latest love plot aimed at boosting the show's ratings. 1640—1995(Hide quotations) 1616 G. Chapman in tr. G. Musaeus To Rdr. sig. A8v
It being by all the most Learned, the incomparable Loue-Poem of the world. 1750 176
I shall not so much as mention his Canticles, which Grotius, as well as I, affirms to be a Love-Poem. 1847 Ld. Tennyson iv. 71
And this A mere love-poem. 1937 D. Thomas 6 Aug.
(1987)
255
I'm a long way from everywhere, in a high huge haystack of a studio over the harbour,..writing an occasional bad love poem. 2002 Nov. 79/2
To get my own back, I sent a love poem to our history teacher and signed it from him. 1616—2002(Hide quotations) 1759 20 179
The Doctor's having entertained himself with translating the whole when he were still younger..were no improper circumstances for the transfusion of a gallant and soft love-poet. 1888 M. Arnold 2nd Ser. 43
Nor is Clarinda's love-poet, Sylvander, the real Burns either. 1923 J. M. Murry 224
Love poets are seldom the singers of happiness in love. 1995 V. Chandra
(1996)
142
Here we are, you and I, love-poets of the first order, reduced to writing about a homicidal madman. 1759—1995(Hide quotations) 1787 in E. Spenser I. p. lxxxix
The uncommon ardour of his passion, as well as the fineness of his wit and language, established him the master of love-poetry among the Moderns. 1861 J. Brown 2nd Ser. II. 466
This perfervor of our Scottish love poetry. 1991 F. Kanga
(1992)
vi. 79
And someone gave me a book of Elizabethan love poetry, but you can't read too much of that. Just an occasional dip. 1787—1991(Hide quotations) 1633 W. Prynne 88
The Scriptures doe expressly prohibit the personating of any sinne; much more then, the Acting of Adulteries, Incests, Rapes, Murders, Thefts, Lovepranks. 1746 A. Arbuthnot 204
His Love-pranks began to be the Subject of public-Talk. 1857 G. H. Boker II. 415
And curl in scorn when other maidens play Their love-pranks round me. 2001
(Nexis)
12 Mar. 73
Many of the traditional Horis retell the love pranks of Krish-na-Radha. 1633—2001(Hide quotations) a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
iv. i. 191
You haue simply misus'd our sexe in your loue-prate . 1769 E. Griffith ii. 20
Here comes my brother—have done with your love-prate. a1616—1769(Hide quotations) 1671 J. Milton 1008
Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end. 1694 L. Echard tr. Plautus Amphitryon iii. ii, in tr. Plautus 43
Whenever these little Love Quarrels happen, and those made up, the pleasing Passion's doubled. 1715 A. Pope in tr. Homer I. iii. Observ. 253
There is in one Place a Lover to be protected, in another a Love-Quarrel to be made up. 1798 J. Baillie Introd. Disc. in 56
The clearing up of some mistake or love-quarrel. 1857 C. Dickens xiii. 111
‘One remark,’ said Flora, giving their conversation..the tone of a love quarrel. 1993 16 342
How a woman may read her man out, in a love quarrel. 1671—1993(Hide quotations) 1598 W. Shakespeare iii. i. 176
Dan Cupid, Regent of Loue-rimes. 1601 A. Munday & H. Chettle sig. E2
These loue-rimes are the tokens of small good. [1737 J. Miller ii. 4
Have a Respect unto the approaching Nuptials of my Friend Sir John Love-rhyme, and the virtuous Lady Toothless.]
1822 S. T. Coleridge
(1971)
V. 218
We used to carry..the pillage of the Flower Gardens..with Sonnet or Love-rhyme wrapped round the Nose-gay. 1905 20 176/1
In this Tuscan folk-poetry Mr. Hewlett finds an artistry which clearly differentiates its from the common love-rhyme of all nations. 1598—1905(Hide quotations) 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch 350
The love-secrets [Fr. le secret des amours] and merrie conceits passing from an husband being absent in another countrey, and writing to his wife. 1676 J. Dryden ii. 18
What danger, Arimant, is this you fear? Or what Love-secret which I must not hear? 1753 S. Richardson I. xxxvii. 265
And has he, can he have, so many Love-secrets, and yet..not let them transpire to such a sister? 1923 R. Graves 25
This meek ex-novice rifled Of her love-secrets? 1603—1923(Hide quotations) 1561 T. Hoby tr. B. Castiglione iii. sig. Bb.ii
With what sober mode they shewe fauor to who so is in their loue seruice [It. che gli serue per amore]. 1695 J. Lead i. 33
When he saw thee wounded..his Eye pitied, and officiated in this Love Service, as one that had a fellow-feeling of thy Calamity. 1863 H. R. Geldart 238
Such a charming picture she gave of the pleasure and comfort of love service. 1561—1863(Hide quotations) 1600 W. Shakespeare ii. i. 159
Cupid..loos'd his loue-shaft smartly, from his bowe. 1656 J. Collop 76
Cupid of thy shoulders makes a bow, From whence fly love shafts wounding. 1692 H. Purcell ii. 12
Cupid..Let flye his Love-Shaft smartly from his Bow. 1838 3 544
I have generally observed that a love-shaft pierces through nine hundred and ninety-nine hearts at once. 1993 D. S. Olson
(1994)
x. 199
Andreé..watches from the shade of a garden pavilion, perhaps wishing that the arrows were love-shafts intended for him. 1600—1993(Hide quotations) 1621 R. Burton III. iii. ii. iii. i. 619
Loue will make them Musitians, and to make Ditties, Madrigalls, Elegies, & loue Sonnets. 1796 J. Thelwall 49
Have not our houses been previously plundered by his Majesty's messengers of..manuscripts of all descriptions from the novel and love sonnet to the physiological dissertation? 1870 D. G. Rossetti 26 Feb.
(1965)
II. 804
The love-sonnets are the preponderant portion. 1958 E. Blunden ii. 15
In the pre-war poems of Brooke something like a premonition can be seen recurring. A love-sonnet dated 1909 powerfully includes it. 2003 10 Apr. 36/2
The popular singer Serafino Aquiliano, a lutenist whose outrageous sendups of Petrarchan love sonnets swept Italy in the 1490s to become the latest fashion in music. 1621—2003(Hide quotations) ?c1225
(▸?a1200)
(Cleo. C.vi)
(1972)
153
Wið tollinde word oðer wið luue speche. 1588 A. Munday tr. i. vi. f. 14
Among a number of soft and sweete loue speeches, he discoursed to her his talke with the Emperour. 1694 N. H. at Form of Courtship
There are very few even of our Dramatique Writers; whose Love-speeches read well, or appear free or natural. 1796 M. G. Lewis ii. 32
His love-speeches must be extremely moving! 1829 W. M. Thackeray ?25 Feb.
(1945)
I. 146
A gentleman..arrived [who]..makes love speeches to admiration. 1917 W. B. Yeats 47
Receive the love-speeches of Juliet with an ironical chirping. 2006 14 Oct. 22
Why else would the producers prompt [him] to give wife Vicky the longest, most inarticulate love speech in TV history? ?c1225—2006(Hide quotations) a1350 in K. Böddeker
(1878)
201
Þy loue sprenges tacheþ me. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
iii. ii. 3
Shall Antipholus Euen in the spring of Loue, thy Loue-springs rot? a1672 P. Sterry
(1675)
iii. 205
In these Angelical Loves, the Seraphims are all forms of things, as in their first, their sweetest created Love-Springs, and Love-Unions. a1350—a1672(Hide quotations) a1586 Sir P. Sidney
(1590)
ii. ii. f. 102v
His loue-suits made to Mopsa, meant to Pamela. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
v. ii. 101
Tearmes, Such as will..pleade his Loue-suit to her gentle heart. 1698 R. Gould 6
Some Brawny Groom..Cries Ough, and Mounts, and the Love-suit is done. 1775 R. Cumberland v. iii. 87
I fell into a kind of a love-suit here, with the young lady of this house. 1822 S. T. Coleridge
(1995)
II. 959
His murmur sounded..like the Prologue to a Love-suit. 1943 58 426
One of the most unintelligible lines in Shakespeare occurs in the short speech..in which Diana pretends to accede to Bertram's love-suit. 2001 27 34
Ladies who refuse the love suit will be held accountable for the lover's inevitable demise. a1586—2001(Hide quotations) 1728 27
I had the Pleasure to hear most dismal love Talk than ever was told in any of our modern Romances. 1862 G. Meredith xxxiii. 65
My wife, read this! Strange love talk, is it not? 1994 R. Hellenga xiii. 208
Tete-a-tete they talk the love talk they love to talk. 1728—1994(Hide quotations) c1400
(▸?c1390)
(1940)
l. 927
I hope þat may hym here Schal lerne of luf-talkyng. a1475 in J. O. Halliwell
(1855)
2
A blestfulle songe that byrd gone synge, And I abode for love talkynge. c1400—a1475(Hide quotations) a1350 in K. Böddeker
(1878)
201
Of loue teres he weop a flod. 1857 Jan. 10
Eye of night, with love-tears swimming. a1350—1857(Hide quotations) 1829 245
Her cheek was pale, save when a blush (Raised by the youth's love-theme) cast a flush For a moment o'er it. 1938 R. Graves p. xxi
With the love-theme went the old fear-theme, sharpened rather than blunted by the experiences of peace. 1957 A. R. Manvell & J. Huntley i. 21
Examples of original music by Griffith and Briel included a prominent love-theme (for the Little Colonel and Elsie Stoneman). 2002 Feb. 148/2
The only reason I felt compelled to go back and play was to hear the cool love theme (and subsequent power ballad) one more time. 1829—2002(Hide quotations) a1450 in R. H. Bowers
(1963)
33
A swete lofe thowt is praised of me. a1586 Sir P. Sidney
(1591)
49
Twinckling starres loue thoughts prouoke. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
i. i. 40
Loue-thoughts lye rich, when canopy'd with bowres. 1688 D. Leeds App. 81
The Spirit of the Life..is as it were more than half mad with Love-thoughts. 1781 H. Downman sig. A2
No antique Bards for love-thoughts I explore. 1885 July 417/1
He sings the youthful loves of a lass of La Crau,..that touching poem built of love-thoughts and impressions of nature. 1984 51 711
We have heard Jane fantasize about this kind of allegorical pilgrimage before, though it was significantly after these hitherto undocumented love thoughts. a1450—1984(Hide quotations) 1566 ‘W. P.’ tr. C. S. Curio f. 96
Discourses and loue toyes [It. gli amori] are woes, playes and pastimes are woes. 1647 J. Trapp (Coloss. iv. 16)
Other good books must be read..yet not idle pamphlets, and love-toies. 1773 R. Graves III. ix. xi. 39
One would think it was a love-toy; and that it was given you by your sweet-heart. 2001 Feb. 77/3
The aim is to be your mistress' love-toy and she should employ all means necessary to cajole or punish you into submission. 1566—2001(Hide quotations) 1567 W. Painter II. f. 199
Well it might haue bene said, of loue trickes that she was the only dame and mistresse. 1590 T. Watson 266
Let them suppose sweete Musicke out of vse, and wanton louetricks to be foolish toies. 1611 R. Cotgrave
Amourettes, loue-trickes. 1729 C. Johnson iii. ii. 66
A Love-trick, which is, must, and will always be pardonable. 1826 S. Smith
(1859)
II. 90/2
All the various love-tricks of attempting to appear indifferent. 1960 T. Hughes 74
Her love-tricks were the grinding of locks. 1567—1960(Hide quotations) 1598 F. Meres tr. Luis de Granada i. xix. 202
Hee hath..imployed all the strength and sinnowes of his reason and vnderstanding..in compozing Poems, in making loue Verses [Sp. en componer sonetos llenos de agudeza y sentencias]. 1647 A. Cowley
(title)
The mistresse, or severall copies of love-verses. a1708 Walsh in J. Dryden
(1727)
IV. 335
Petrarch..being by much the most famous of all the Moderns who have written Love-Verses. 1799 F. Reynolds i. 4
While I'm copying out pleadings in one room, you're writing love verses in another. 1841 T. D. Lauder I. 100
Here is one..which would seem to have a curious posey in it; some ready-made love verse, I suppose. 1927 E. V. Gordon p. xliv
Some love-verses of his were there inserted in the poem. 2003 98 504
Matthew Bell demonstrates from examples of love verse over Goethe's entire career how love is always grounded in nature. 1598—2003(Hide quotations) 1637 S. Rutherford
(1848)
cxxiii. 234
Our Lord maketh delicates and dainties of his sweet presence and love-visits to his own. 1735 J. Miller i. i. 7
Besides, Sir, their very Dress and Deportment were shocking. To make a Love-Visit with a plain Leg..and a Coat without Lace. 1898 R. G. Moulton
(ed. 2)
viii. 278
If the gods resist,..blockade them when they wish to make their love visits to earth. 1995 J. Jochens
(1998)
ii. 34
In recounting the illicit love visits of their pagan ancestors, they recognized the deep historical roots of extramarital sexual relations. 1637—1995(Hide quotations) a1250 Ureisun ure Louerde
(Nero)
in R. Morris
(1868)
1st Ser. 201
Hwi ne con ich wowen þe wið swete luue wordes. a1651 D. Calderwood
(1843)
II. 352
Manie love words she useth to Bothwell in this letter. 1883 Aug. 368
Why did her love-words echo in his ear? 1999 A. Arensberg vi. xvi. 184
He used to whisper to her while he aroused her, borrowing love words from classical pornography. a1250—1999(Hide quotations) C2. Objective. a. 1612 A. Stafford tr. I. Lipsius Oration ag. Calumny in 134
I shall desire this faire Audience..to fill and guide the sailes (as I may say) of my Oration, with the Zephyrus, or gentle gale of their loue-breathing thoughts [L. vela hæc, vt sic dicam, orationis meæ Zephyro beniuolentiæ vestræ afflate atque dirigite]. 1744 J. Thomson Autumn in
(new ed.)
157
In Rapture warbled from Love-breathing Lips. 1775 R. B. Sheridan iii. i. 51
What think you of blooming, love-breathing seventeen? 1839 J. A. Hillhouse I. 22
Love-breathing words, Without direction, date, or name. 1612—1839(Hide quotations) 1808 E. S. Barrett 165
What money Mr. Greentimber disbursed on account of the great man's love-broking affairs. 1808—1808(Hide quotations) 1606 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas
(new ed.)
ii. iii. 139
Her sweet, love-darting Eyne. 1637 J. Milton 26
Love-darting eyes. 1788 ‘A. Pasquin’
(ed. 2)
iii. 39
See the love-darting blaze of her black rolling eye. 1844 R. F. Williams I. ii. 37
‘By those divine and love-darting orbs, I am in no voice,’ replied the musician. 1606—1844(Hide quotations) 1599 W. Shakespeare ii. v. 7
Then loue-deuouring death do what he dare. 1683 J. Lead 116
The Love devouring flame is come forth to kindle upon them. 1816 Ld. Byron lxxix. 44
To that gentle touch, through brain and breast Flashed the thrill'd spirit's love-devouring heat. 1599—1816(Hide quotations) 1594 R. Barnfield sig. E
And thou loue-hating Boy, (whom once I loued) Farewell, a thousand-thousand times farewell. 1807 ‘Q. Queerum’ 8
Back the god of love flew, And wounded each heart of the love-hating crew. 1962 14 169/2
A son-devouring and love-hating woman who hangs up the stuffed body of her deceased husband in a closet wherever she goes. 2003
(Nexis)
10 Oct. 16 s
A love-hating self-help writer, and..a playboy men's-magazine journalist out to expose her softer side. 1594—2003(Hide quotations) 1701 T. D'Urfey ii. i. 13
The Love-inspiring Graces of thy Person. 1797 M. Robinson I. 277
The love-inspiring dames of luxurious Italy. 1851 W. M. Thackeray in 2 134/2
The Exhibition..was..a great love-inspiring, gooseflesh-bringing sight. 1934 4 Oct. 2/2
He's been inviting violence all his life. Not a sweet and love-inspiring chappie. 1999
(Nexis)
28 Aug. 10
A roll-call of stories of maddening yet still love-inspiring parents, children and partners. 1701—1999(Hide quotations) 1532 T. More Confut. Tyndale in 403/1
His false loue-lacking charitie. 1593 W. Shakespeare sig. Eiijv
Loue-lacking vestals, and selfe-louing Nuns. 1532—1593(Hide quotations) 1599 W. Shakespeare iii. ii. 5
Spread thy close curtaine loue-performing night. 1599—1599(Hide quotations) 1742 A. Pope 298
Love-whisp'ring woods, and Lute-resounding waves. a1790 W. Livingston Philos. Solitude in
(1793)
155
Love-whispering groves, and silver-streaming floods. 1742—a1790(Hide quotations) b. c1440
(▸?a1375)
Abbey Holy Ghost
(Thornton)
in G. G. Perry
(1914)
62
Þat he ne do no trispase agayne þe rewle..of þis relegion and of þase lufefrayners. c1440—c1440(Hide quotations) 1591 J. Lyly i. iii. sig. B4
Thys idle humor of loue..tickleth not my lyuer, from whence the Loue-mongers in former age seemed to inferre they should proceede. 1598 W. Shakespeare ii. i. 254
Thou art an old Loue-monger . 1772 J. Entick
(new ed.)
Lovemonger, s. one who deals in affairs of love. 1865 A. C. Swinburne i. ii. 35
These jangling song-smiths are keen love-mongers, They snap at all meats. 1962 13 Mar. 9/4
She is natural prey to the..cynically patient love-mongers that exist in the shadows of a corrupt society. 2001
(Nexis)
27 Sept. a22
The love mongers, who preach endlessly about loving everything and love as a way of salvation are really not talking about love. 1591—2001(Hide quotations) C3. Adverbial (chiefly instrumental), parasynthetic, and similative. 1668 T. Jordan v. i. 40
Our Parents did..propagate the world, with love born Creatures. 1754 G. Jeffreys 33
Wrong'd by Love-born Jealousy, She fled. 1838 E. S. Wortley II. 472
Often have I..deemed Life's happiest moments were Ev'n those that owned no love-born care. 1668—1838(Hide quotations) 1787 F. Grose Superstitions 3 in
But if any disconsolate old maiden, or love-crossed bachelor, happened to dispatch themselves in their garters, the room where the deed was perpetrated was rendered forever uninhabitable. 1885 R. Bridges viii. iv. 93
Many an old love-crossed And doleful ditty would she gently sing. 1963 F. L. Lucas i. 14
He was thinking early in 1901 of a play about a love-crossed scientist going on an expedition to the Arctic. 2004
(Nexis)
15 July 1
People will be able to see the Bard at his best with love-crossed nobles, mischievous servants and fools and jesters galore. 1787—2004(Hide quotations) 1832 Ld. Tennyson Eleänore in
(new ed.)
29
The languors of thy lovedeep eyes. 1988 N. C. L. Madgett ii. 83
Even in this world may the love-deep roots of trees conquer evil's senseless blight. 1832—1988(Hide quotations) 1725 E. Fenton in A. Pope et al. tr. Homer I. i. 532
Love-dittied airs [Gk. ἱμερόεσσαν ἀοιδὴν], and dance, conclude the day. 1835 R. Mant 194
Thou..Dost sweetly with love-dittied song Help the slow-pacing hours along. 1725—1835(Hide quotations) 1665 R. Brathwait 23
We are now to..descend to our love-enthralled Absolon. a1910 J. W. Howe
(1941)
ii. i. 88
At thy feet he lies To rise no more but shorn and love-enthralled. 1665—a1910(Hide quotations) 1823 T. Roscoe tr. J. C. L. de Sismondi IV. xxxvi. 458
The melancholy soul of a love-fond poet. 1823—1823(Hide quotations) a1791 T. Blacklock
(1793)
168
Let her fly The tender lisp, the love-illumin'd eye. 1910 E. M. Barton 72
Youths and maidens, now so hopefully surveying The love-illumined avenue of life. a1791—1910(Hide quotations) 1691 E. Taylor in tr. J. Behmen 204
No Tongue or Pen can more than smatter, at the recital of the love-inspired Words. 1754 T. Cooke 8
Now the love-inspired Swain Breathes his Vows. 1785 A. Yearsley 28
His mate Shall love-inspired notes repeat. 1877 P. J. Bailey
(ed. 10)
xviii. 273
To assimilate to his own, All spirits, that, love-inspired, they share his boundless throne. 1942 2 285
He is attracted by the love inspired and selfless proselytism of St. Francis. 2005
(Nexis)
26 Sept.
The New Year brings Vivaldi concertos and Bach sonatas with more Quartets and Valentines's Day love-inspired music. 1691—2005(Hide quotations) a1586 Sir P. Sidney
(1593)
i. sig. H5
Then did he slack his loue-enstructed pace. 1882 W. Carleton
(rev. ed.)
121
Leaves picked by love-instructed art From off the branches of the heart. a1586—1882(Hide quotations) 1667 J. Milton v. 41
The night-warbling Bird, that now awake Tunes sweetest his love-labor'd song. 1696 J. Lead sig. *E3v
Let all the Heavenly Nine..in one high Love-labour'd Song agree. 1757 W. Thompson Gondibert & Birtha in i. iii. 339
The Love-labour'd Song of Nightingales. 1867 A. Cary xi. 200
The night warbling bird, that now awake, Tunes sweetest his love-labored song. 1667—1867(Hide quotations) 1772 S. Whyte 20
A chearless Guest, Yok'd with Despair, in a Love-laden Breast. 1820 P. B. Shelley To Skylark in 203
Soothing her love-laden Soul in secret hour With music sweet as love. 1908 July 119
The British Conquest of India freed three millions of the population to enjoy the love-laden atmosphere of Christianity. 1772—1908(Hide quotations) 1595 E. Spenser Epithalamion in v. sig. G6
The birds louelearned song. 1595—1595(Hide quotations) 1785 T. Dwight iii. 64
For earth too bright were these love-lighted fires! 1904 9 Feb. 5/2
Peering through the pale miracle of spring at his violets,..his blear eyes love-lighted. 1785—1904(Hide quotations) a1809 A. Seward
(1810)
III. 63
Long shall thy love-lit eyes be dim If soon thou art not bravely free. 1948 E. Blunden
(1964)
208
Here she is in her father's garden, flowering, love-lit, awaiting the slow old Nurse. a1809—1948(Hide quotations) 1657 J. Harington
(ed. 3)
ii. 60
Nor wonder, Chain'd, since grew Love-mad, distracted. 1839 H. Hallam IV. vi. 451
Love-mad and yet talking in gallant conceits. 1918 E. R. Burroughs xiv. 161
I have saved his priestess from love-mad Tantor. 2003 13 Feb. 24/1
Among them are the love-mad queen Phaedra..and the wild-eyed Cassandra in Trojan Women. 1657—2003(Hide quotations) a1586 Sir P. Sidney
(1593)
i. sig. H5v
His loue-open eye..that eu'n did marke hir troden grasse. a1586—a1586(Hide quotations) 1717 E. Fenton tr. Homer Odyssey xi, in 101
Wand'ring Love-pensive near his Amber Stream. 1770 J. Armstrong Forced Marriage i. ii, in II. 79
A hopeful youth to grow love-pensive! 1717—1770(Hide quotations) 1749 S. Richardson
(ed. 2)
III. lxxvi. 363
For already I am convinced, that there is not a woman in the world that is Love-proof and Plot-proof, if she be not the person. 1810 III. 121
The widow..placed herself opposite this love-proof hero. 1888 N. F. Davin 26
Cold, love proof maid, serene, omnipotent In arms. 1941 T. R. Ybarra i. 9
Despite her conquests, Minnie Russell remained love-proof. 2002
(Nexis)
27 Apr.
He..is suddenly stuck with a very uncool child (Hoult), who starts invading every corner of his love-proof life. 1749—2002(Hide quotations) 1595 S. Daniel ii. lxxix. sig. K3
[She] her loue-quicke eies which ready be, Fastens on one. 1595—1595(Hide quotations) a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
iii. ii. 355
I am he that is so Loue-shak'd, I pray you tel me your remedie. a1616—a1616(Hide quotations) 1833 A. Domett 174
Those eyes, whose language did surpass The eye-talk of love-smitten lass. 1996 A. Lykiard tr. L. Aragon 64
Let your two motionless palms, your love-smitten mitts on that prominent curve, join up towards the hardest, best point which raises the holy ogive to its peak. 1833—1996(Hide quotations) 1648 R. Herrick sig. I4v
The love-spent Youth, and love-sick Maid. 1654 T. White ii. 132
The most charming Mystery, and inchanting Riddle, that ever love-spent bowels were able to sing or sigh out. 1648—1654(Hide quotations) 1880 M. H. De la Cherois-Crommelin III. 322
At first, poor love-starved Nannie listened with avidity. 1909 24 July 2/1
Love-starved young Keats hath cast his gift of clay. 1996 Dec. 42/1
The latest trend in love-starved Hollywood, a town where you can't move for gorgeous lovelies, arm in arm with dweebs. 1880—1996(Hide quotations) 1750 H. Snell 132
Our Hannah pretended to be love-stricken, at the very first Sight. 1806 T. S. Surr II. x. 235
Bless me, the youth is love-stricken! 1992 24 Aug. 80/3
Willis has a fine-beaten air as a love-stricken schlub. 1750—1992(Hide quotations) 1831 L. E. Landon 61
Those winged words of soul and flame, Breathed in the dark-eyed beauty's ear By some young love-touched cavalier. 1872 A. T. de Vere Arraignment in 7
Like birds that cannot stay their songs Love-touched in Spring. 1831—1872(Hide quotations) 1587 G. Turberville 198
Where the blinded archer with his bow Did glaunce at sundry gallants euery day..Yet must I seeme loue wounded eke to be. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
i. ii. 114
Loue wounded Protheus. 1905 A. C. Swinburne II. 109
A heart love-wounded whereto love was law. 1587—1905(Hide quotations) 1856 W. Whitman
(new ed.)
172
Hair, bosom, hips, bend of legs,..love-flesh swelling and deliciously aching. c1890 IX. i
How soft and smooth,..solid, stiff, yet semi-elastic is the male love truncheon. 1896 J. S. Farmer & W. E. Henley IV. 241/2
Love-lane,..the female pudendum. c1930 65
I so tickled the little button just at the entrance of her love grotto, that she hugged me convulsively to her bosom. 1962 P. Crump xlii. 386
Ya make me nervous with that death talk and my love bone goes down. 1990 10 52
Terms of endearment for women's breasts,..love pillows. 2006
(Nexis)
30 Nov. (Essential section) 8
Leading men often leap for the love button without any attempt at foreplay. 1856—2006(Hide quotations) 1878 J. Marshall 158
Love-set, a set in which one player wins six consecutive games; or, in case of an advantage-set, seven consecutive games. 1884 25 Apr. 3/2
In the two first days' play the whole of the heats were love victories. 1930 8 Aug. 5/4
To the player winning the most love sets in proportion to the number of matches played, will be presented a racket press. 2003 O. Shine 75
A love match, these days, would be unheard of, but at a Seattle tournament in 1910 Hazel Hotchkiss won 48 straight points to beat a Miss Huiskamp 6–0, 6–0 without losing a point. 1833—2003(Hide quotations) C6. a1500
(▸a1400)
(Chetham)
(1889)
127
Owghte she covthe of love amowre. a1500—a1500(Hide quotations) ?c1225
(▸?a1200)
(Cleo. C.vi)
(1972)
315
Ma of liðe wordes þenne of sturne, for þer of kimeð þinge best. þet is luue eie. a1500 How Good Man taught his Son
(Cambr.)
141 in
(1889)
2 33
With lone
[read loue]
awe, sone, þy wyfe chastyse. ?c1225—a1500(Hide quotations) 1656 J. Mennes & J. Smith 35
Another ask't me..Whether I wore a Love-bagge on my shoulder? 1656—1656(Hide quotations) 1928 22 June 2/7
(advt.)
Bohemian love beads. 1967 23 Aug. a3/7
Hippy bag... Holds everything. Love beads, books..you name it. 1968 20 June 1/5
Love beads draped on him by Pierre Trudeau, adorn former Prime Minister Pearson at Toronto political rally. 1969 R. Lowell
(1970)
217
Our love-beads Rattling together to show that we were young. 1973 ‘B. Mather’ xiii. 155
Weirdo fringed shirts, headbands, love beads..as unsavoury a bunch of love children as I have ever seen. 2003 D. Gaines xv. 328
There had been long-standing rumors of Johnny all douched up in the '60s with love beads, a headband, and bell-bottoms, but I said nothing. 1928—2003(Hide quotations) 1761 T. Smollett Sir Launcelot Greaves in Dec. 631/1
He owned she was a love-begotten babe. 1771 T. Smollett I. 172
That he had been a love-begotten babe, brought up in the work-house. 1784
(MS)
Mary, daughter of Ann Allen—Love begotten, [baptized]. 1843 J. S. Knowles Secretary v. iv, in
(1859)
454
He was of noble stock, and told you true—My eldest brother's love-begotten son! 1761—1843(Hide quotations) a1300 in C. Brown
(1932)
117
Maide dreiȝ & wel itaucht, ic em in þine loue-bende. c1330
(▸?c1300)
(Auch.)
324
Leuer him wer walk & wende, & dye in trewe loue bende. a1300—c1330(Hide quotations) 1749 J. Cleland II. 63
Then the turtle-billing kisses, and the poignant painless love-bites. 1778 tr. J. Lernutius in tr. J. Secundus
(ed. 3)
x. 108
(note)
Poignant Love-Bites, and the nimble Tongue, Shall the dear Wanderer recal. 1903 H. Ellis III. 71
We may find references to love-bites in the literature of ancient as well as of modern times... In the Indian Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana a chapter is devoted to this subject. 1972 29 Jan. 3/1
Once I saw her sitting in class with a love bite on her neck. 2004 J. Meno 142
She had this love bite, you know, on her neck; one bright red mark at the base of her throat. 1749—2004(Hide quotations) ?1507 W. Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen
(Rouen)
in
(1998)
I. 47
I cast on him a crabit e..And lettis it is a luf blenk. 1636 S. Rutherford
(1863)
I. 155
My Bridegroom's love-blinks fatten my weary soul. 1716 J. Willison 261
Can you say there is nothing..would please you so much as one Ray or Love-blink of his [sc. Christ's] Countenance? 1823 R. Story In my Hey-day of Youth in
(1857)
35
If there's gloom in her e'e..It stays na sae lang till it quite disappears, Laughed aff by a love-blink. 1890 J. Coghill 148
Mark the luve-blink in here e'e. 1927 J. Carruthers i. §3
‘I canna thole women.’.. James laughed... ‘Wait till ane o' them gies ye the love-blink.’ ?1507—1927(Hide quotations) ?c1225
(▸?a1200)
(Cleo. C.vi)
(1972)
82
As mi leofmon seið to me in þet luue boke, ‘osculetur me osculo oris sui’. 1587 F. Clement sig. Cijv
Bookeloue I say, but I meane not louebookes, which..be the enemies of vertue. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
i. i. 19
Pro. For I will be thy beades-man, Valentine. Val. And on a loue-booke pray for my successe? 1690 T. Shadwell i. i. 2
What's here? a wicked and profane Love Book. 1845 N. P. Willis ii. 64
He has written Henrietta Temple—the silliest yet truest love-book of modern time. 1936 C. S. Lewis iv. 172
Hence those strange comings and goings in every medieval love-book. 2003 32 29
It is a love book, but the torturers ascribe a different value to it and don't understand it. ?c1225—2003(Hide quotations) 1655 R. Davenport v. sig. H2
The wound that foolish love-Boy there..Had struck your heart with. a1656 J. Ussher
(1658)
vi. 131
Pausanias, being discovered by Argilius, his love-boy. 1914 C. Mackenzie II. iv. iv. 930
Good job if that love-boy of hers does punch into her. Silly cow! She ought to know better. 1993 J. Peck 61
He turns away to returning love-boy, she returns to father. 1655—1993(Hide quotations) a1700 in R. Nares
(1822)
Four love brats will be laid to thee. 1998
(Nexis)
12 May 28
Your own zany brand of humour..is surely the cheeky love brat of Howard Stern and Jenny Eclair. a1700—1998(Hide quotations) a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
iii. ii. 34
There is no loue-Broker in the world, can more preuaile in mans commendation with woman, then report of valour. 1698 E. Settle 16
Our Diminitive Love-broker has no more Hand in the Affair, then meer starting the Game. 1794 G. Palomba i. vii. 13
I am no love-broker. 1885 8 May 11/4
She reveals herself as a love-broker, a weekly lender of love. 1988
(Nexis)
30 May c4
(headline)
Movie casting directors really love brokers... At least six of their [on-screen] pairings have developed into real-life romances. 2007
(Nexis)
20 June h3
That 21st-century dating experience led Koechel to seek out a practitioner of an ages-old custom: matchmaking... These love brokers reflect modern life. a1616—2007(Hide quotations) 1600 sig. I4
(title)
Phillidaes Loue-call to her Coridon, and his replying. 1824 M. R. Mitford I. 198
In less than two minutes Harriet heard the love-call sounded at Sally's gate. 1880 A. H. Swinton v. 209
A love-call that reproduces..the strutting, wing-drumming, and rustling of the males of the turkey and grouse at the pairing time. 1887 31 Dec. 901/3
He [sc. Mr. Rowbotham] disagrees with Darwin in finding the origin of all instrumental music in the love-call. 1934 J. A. Thomson & E. J. Holmyard I. xx. 645
Partly a challenge..it is also a love-call; and the male bird has a simple courtship ritual of strutting before his desired mate. 2002 15 June 32/1
In Panama, predatory bats home in on the night-time love calls of male tungara frogs. 1600—2002(Hide quotations) 1601 tr. M. Martínez sig. Hh2v
The great and famous Captaine Bembo rose up, who in Loue causes [Sp. en casos de amor] desired euer to bee the first. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
iv. i. 91
In all this time there was not anie man died in his owne person (videlicet) in a loue cause . 1668 P. M. Cimmerian Matron 11 in W. Charleton
Her Clients were often forced to gratifie her, for solliciting their Love-causes, with such Fees. 1798 A. Schink tr. A. von Kotzebue iv. i. 46
You must..plead my Love-cause with Mrs. Smith. 1824 C. M. Sedgwick III. xx. 130
Depend on it, a love cause is better in the hands of the principal than the most eloquent agent. 1601—1824(Hide quotations) 1948 26 Feb. 10/3
The reader who fights for each installment of high adventure, mass homicide, glamor and love comics is an ‘ego enhancement’ type. 1951 M. McLuhan 151/2
It recently shifted a large section of its enterprises from murder to love comics. 1970 G. Greer 214
The market is contested by..love comics and fotoromance. 1992 S. Tharoor
(1995)
v. 254
The house is already littered with cassette tapes, love comics, costume jewelry, and pinup posters. 1948—1992(Hide quotations) 1561 J. Daus tr. H. Bullinger xlii. 280
Poysoning, louecuppes, and inchauntmentes [L. venena, philtra & incantationes], were in the time of S. Iohn most frequented, through out the Romane Empire. 1680 H. More xviii. 182
Her poisoned Philter or Love-Cup. 1792 E. Sibly
(new ed.)
iv. 1111
As for philtres, love-cups, and the like, they unquestionably proceed from a natural cause. 1849 D. Rock IV. xi. 86
The love-cup was sent about. 1891 A. Austin iii. 162
Then shall no love-cup cheat the toils that tire Nor care be chased by wedlock's staunch caress. 1925 E. H. Haight 204
In reply to his piteous appeal Canidia only invokes Night and Diana to aid her in preparing a more potent love cup for the man who scorns her. 1933 18 Apr. 1/2
He had admitted buying for $4 the silver ‘love cup’. 2000
(Nexis)
25 Apr.
Mead and fruit wine were served in Tudor three-handled ‘love-cups’. 1561—2000(Hide quotations) 1840 Feb. 69
An aggravator, or love curl, of a delicate roundness, hung low upon the imperial forehead. 1926 T. E. Lawrence
(subscribers' ed.)
lxxxvii. 461
In command was young Metaab, stripped to his skimp riding-drawers for hard work, with his black love-curls awry. 1971 9 Sept. 21/2
The ‘Love Touch’ is a casual cap of a coiffure highlighted by love curls, braids or waves. 1840—1971(Hide quotations) 1761 Petition P. Yeaman in 28 July 13
That he and others went [to clean the mill-leads], and some did not; which made the deponent believe it was a love-dargue. 1895 ‘I. Maclaren’ 338
It's a love-darg,..because ye've been sober..they juist want to show kindness, bein' oor neeburs. 1960 Huntly Express 27 May in
(1965)
VI. 166/1
Mr Smith seems to have been a popular type and instead of offering him a present or standing him a complimentary dinner, the farmers decided to treat him to a love darg. 1761—1960(Hide quotations) 1877 F. P. Pascoe 122
A curious organ is a pyriform muscular sac, containing one or two slender conical styles, which can be thrust out through the aperture of the sac; they are found in certain snails, and with them they pierce each other's skin. They are known as ‘love-darts’. 1958 J. E. Morton vii. 132
The vagina develops also a muscular caecum, the dart sac, in which is produced a fine-pointed calcareous shaft, about 5/16in. long, and delicately ridged. This is the telum amoris, or ‘love dart’, which is exchanged by the partners with some velocity before courtship. 2005 20 582/2
The use of the love dart (laced with hormones from the dart sac-associated mucus glands) increases the number of escaping spermatozoa. 1877—2005(Hide quotations) c1390
(▸?a1325)
Long Charter of Christ
(Vernon)
A. l. 62 in F. J. Furnivall
(1901)
ii. 642 (MED)
And þis I made for Monkynde, Mi loue-dedes to haue in mynde. a1631 J. Donne
(1633)
223
Gentle love-deeds, as blossomes on a bough, From loves awakened root do bud out now. 1846 J. Keble
(1862)
58
So many love-deeds done, to cease Her kindly toil..Small joy to her would seem. 1891 T. D. Sullivan tr. Ailleen & Baille in 98
The saddest, sweetest love deeds done In Ulster's noble land. 1911 E. Toldridge Mother's Love Songs in 19 296
Love-words, love-deeds, and tenderer, too, Than we give to any other. c1390—1911(Hide quotations) 1709 J. Johnson 69
Pharmacy probably signifies here..the compounding of philtrums or love-doses. 1966 11 Aug. a22/1
(headline)
Eagles get love dose... Golden eagles..are being given a love potion because the birds will not mate. 1709—1966(Hide quotations) 1647 R. Stapleton tr. Juvenal 85
Their love-draughts, charmes, and druggs [L. hippomanes carmenque..coctumque uenenum]. 1751 J. Stirling tr. Horace I. v. v. 159/2
Dry'd liver might be a love draught [L. amoris poculum]. 1841 G. Borrow I. ii. i. 228
The women..dealing in love draughts and diablerie. 1906 27 Aug. 3/1
The love-draught which Tristram and Iseult drink together. 2002
(Nexis)
13 July 5
We talked on into the night about the morality of love draughts. 1647—2002(Hide quotations) a1400
(Pepys)
(1976)
159
Haue swich drede to hym as þe good wyf haþ to hir housbonde, þat is, a loue drede for loue þat sche haþ to hym. a1425 J. Wyclif
(1871)
II. 316
Love-drede is in men wiþouten siche servile drede. c1450
(1900)
243
For þe loue-dreed þat sche hadde to god. 1641 W. Vaughan v. 181
He must take up the Crosse with Love-dread Note. a1400—1641(Hide quotations) 1613 J. Marston & W. Barksted v. sig. I4v
Let him that hath drunke loue drugs trust a woman. 1876 J. B. L. Warren iv. iv. 358
He would rub the love-drug from his eyes. 1954 5 270
‘Budded bosom-peaks’ seems to me too hackneyed..an indelicacy to come from Tennyson, even though he gives it to the mouth of Lucretius mad with a love-drug. 1969 17 May 3/4
The new ‘love drug’, MDA (3, 4-methylenedioxy-phenyl-iso-propylamine). 2002 22 Apr. 5/8
A love drug that claims to trigger erections more quickly and safely than Viagra is expected to reach the Australian market next year. 1613—2002(Hide quotations)
▸
a1393 J. Gower
(Fairf.)
vi. 307 (MED)
Lovedrunke is the meschief Above alle othre the most chief. a1393—a1393(Hide quotations) 1597 Bp. J. Hall i. ii. 4
Deck't with loue-fauors. 1696 J. Lead 85
In her Love-Favour you may all abide, to whom this Word of Counsel shall come. 1703 T. Baker i. i. 8
I never desire any private Love-favours from 'em. 1860 T. B. Aldrich 97
Such carrying of love-favors and pink notes! 1921 18 Oct. 6/8
Thou [sc. a flower] wert pluckt and given to me, For a love-favor. 1597—1921(Hide quotations) 1598 W. Shakespeare v. ii. 124
And euery one his Loue-feat will aduance, Vnto his seuerall Mistres. 1598—1598(Hide quotations) 1907 6 Oct. (Sporting section) 9/3
After the fight was over the St. Louis papers referred to the affair as a kid glove love fest. 1950 F. Howley vi. 109
I grew skeptical about having a love fest after such a battle. 2006
(Nexis)
12 Mar. 15
Keating's extended chat with the writer..was an unexpurgated love-fest. 1907—2006(Hide quotations) 1637 S. Rutherford Let. 7 Mar. in
(1664)
ci. 201
I dare beleeve no evil of Christ: if he would cool my love-fever for himself with reall presence & possession, I would be rich. 1753 S. Richardson I. 88
But when the Love-fever was at the height, did you make any-body uneasy with your passion? 1868 M. Collins III. 105
The love-fever has variable symptoms. 1952 279 214/2
Weinstein argues effectively for love as the product of responsible family living and sanely deplores the love fever brand of romanticism. 2005
(Nexis)
2 May a8
Being romantic is terrific once you're in a relationship, but not if you work yourself into a love fever before you've even heard a Yes to a first date. 1637—2005(Hide quotations) a1375
(▸c1350)
(1867)
l. 1020 (MED)
William wold fonde for to pleie in þat place þe priue loue game. 1591 sig. D2v
Is all the bloud yspilt on either part..Growne to a loue-game and a Bridall feast? 1819
(ed. 2)
I. 133
It may be an useful lesson to yourself and to others who play the love-game at piquet. 1833 T. Hook I. vi. 106
Can't make a hazard..and has lost two love games. 1897 Earl of Suffolk et al. I. 264/2
(Curling) Souter, to score a love game; not to allow the opponents to score. 1925 F. Harris I. 182
I waited a little while and then began the love game. 1978 5 Mar. c2/1
Connors..quickly served a love game to tie the score. 1985 I. Opie & P. Opie iv. 126
‘Now you're married we wish you joy’ is, of course, tagged on to many a love game. 2003 O. Shine 80
An exchange of love games moved the set into a tie-break. a1375—2003(Hide quotations) 1975 W. Kempton iv. 55
(table)
Synonyms..Condom..rubber..sheik..love-glove. 1987 7 Nov. 6/2
Their standards and practices permitted the words ‘prophylactic’ and ‘contraceptive’ and even a student who calls a condom a ‘love glove’. 2005 L. Sussman vi. 140
Remember your three Ls—lube (lots of it, the water-based kind), love glove and logic. 1975—2005(Hide quotations) 1598 G. Chapman in C. Marlowe & G. Chapman
(new ed.)
iii. sig. Fv
The treasure which the Loue-god let him ioy In his deare Hero. 1609 W. Shakespeare cliv. sig. K
The little Loue-God lying once a sleepe. 1887 C. Bowen tr. Virgil Æneid i, in tr. 101
She addresses the Love-god plumed for the flight. 1961 W. Brandon 113/2
The Pan of the later Pueblos, a humpbacked ithyphallic love god usually shown leeringly playing a seductive flute. 1982
(Nexis)
19 Nov. (Weekend section) 19
James Dean, her safely dead love god. 2002 July (Encycl. Eroticus Suppl.) 4/1
Best position for aquatic fun. Deep penetration coupled with the steam should assure your status as a love god. 1598—2002(Hide quotations) 1837 T. Carlyle II. i. xii. 89
Beauty no longer swims decorated in her garniture, like Love-goddess hidden-revealed in her Paphian clouds. 1949 2 Jan. 7/7
Worshipped by the throng that has always revered cleavage above dramatic ability, Rita became what Life magazine termed the love goddess of the twentieth century. 1995 Sept. 226/2
The love-goddess contours of her body. 2001 145 458
Aphrodite, the love-goddess,..bears a strong resemblance to the Semitic love-goddess Ishtar. 1837—2001(Hide quotations) 1970
(Univ. S. Dakota)
4 iii.–iv. 20
Love handles, the fat on one's sides. 1989 T. Clancy xiii. 306
No longer a young man.., love handles at his waist, much of his hair gone. 2005 Aug. 141/4
My girlfriend had a tummy tuck to get rid of her belly... She says it was worth it, but I'd rather have her love handles. 1970—2005(Hide quotations) 1925 J. Riviere et al. tr. S. Freud IV. 79
So the second antithesis, love-hate, reproduces the polarity pleasure-pain, which is bound up with the former. 1937 H. Nicolson 16 June
(1966)
302
Goering..has the love-hate complex of the average German bourgeois for England. 1950 E. J. Simmons xix. 315
Versilov's..love-hate relations with Katerina which conclude with his mad attempt to murder her. 1972 Ld. Robens ii. 15
My personal relationship with the men and their leaders was schizophrenic—a sort of love-hate relationship. 2002 M. Holroyd 308
Television..has become the chief vehicle for a love-hate obsession with ‘personalities’. 1925—2002(Hide quotations) 1963 14 July 13/4
If he love-hates his mother, he's a neurotic personality. 1967 A. Wilson ii. 216
She love-hates him enough to be unable to leave him. 1985
(Nexis)
20 Jan. iii. 1
Places in the city that are visited, pointed out, love-hated and pondered. 2002 A. N. Wilson xxii. 339
The boozy old boilers, the Mrs Gamps and Betsy Prigs whom Dickens love-hated, stayed away. 1963—2002(Hide quotations) 1928 5 Aug. 4/1
Coupled to this love-hatred feature of the Smith situation, there is the great American admiration for the personality and career of Herbert Hoover. 1951 H. Hatfield iii. 36
The protagonists in Two Friends, a novella of the love-hatred between a responsible burgher and a ne'er-do-well, afford a certain parallel to Thomas and Christian Buddenbrook. 1961 18 Mar. 11/4
The love-hatred of Isolde for Tristan. 2002
(Nexis)
12 May (ES Mag.) 3
London born and bred, I share the love-hatred for my city of most Londoners. 1928—2002(Hide quotations) 1649 J. Ellistone tr. J. Böhme xvii. viii. 140
I onely sought the pleasant love heart of Jesus Christ [Ger. das liebreiche Hertz Jesu Christi] to hide my selfe therein. 1907 8 Sept. 20/2
Above the altar hung two banded hearts of blue and white forget-me-nots, from which depended by streamers and love hearts of tulle a floral wedding belle of white tuberoses. 1990 10 Feb. 5/4
Love Consultants will erect a giant loveheart sign outside the house of the admiree. 2002 R. Watson in A. Cattanach iv. 95
She always drew love hearts. 1649—2002(Hide quotations) 1650 L. Lawrence 6
Night in her Love-hood..Enters (the friendly crowd) attyr'd in Jet. 1663 R. Boyle
(1664)
198
Such a kind of Transparency, as that of a Sive, a piece of Cyprus, or a Love-Hood. 1747 M. Delany
(1861)
II. 478
I shall make no more dark things; after three months black silk is worn with love hood. 1861 19 Mar. 5/5
The ladies to wear black silk, plain muslin or long lawn, crepe or love hoods. 1893 B. Tuckerman 151
The scarlet petticoat was to go to Gertruyd, the black love-hood to Annetje. 1650—1893(Hide quotations) 1778 A. Ferguson Let. 7 Feb. in H. Mackenzie 117
I can conceive that the substitution of a love-interest for an interest of state, which the audience expected from the name of Alfred, may have baulked them. 1868 25 Sept. 7/3
The statement that Richardson has created the love interest of modern novels is only true in the sense that Richardson created the modern novel. 1892 H. James
(1947)
129
There must be a ‘love-interest’—which is one and the same with the other parts of the situation. 1938 R. G. Collingwood v. 84
The cinema, where it is said to be a principle accepted by almost every manager that no film can succeed without a love-interest. 1961 C. S. Lewis iv. 38
The story of excitement or mystery usually has a ‘love interest’ tacked on to it. 1990 28 Oct. iv. 7/3
She usually plays ‘the love interest’. But she hopes that will change as movies take a feminine tilt. 2004 4 June 18/1
The love interest, needless to say, was not with Briseis, but with Patroclus. 1778—2004(Hide quotations) 1586 W. Webbe sig. Iiiii
The Cornation that among the loue laddes wontes to be worne much. 1632 J. Vicars tr. Virgil i. 24
This love-lad [sc. Cupid] straight his mothers minde obeyes. 1907 19 Oct. 29/1
All along the willow-way My love-lad lies sleeping [i.e. dead]. 1586—1907(Hide quotations) c1330
(▸?a1300)
(1886)
l. 2020
Her loue laike þou bi hald For þe loue of me. c1330—c1330(Hide quotations) 1594 R. Barnfield sig. Giiiv
Helen, Maenelaus louing, lou'd, louelie, a loue-lasse, Till spight full Fortune from a loue-lasse made her a loue-lesse Wife. 1610 R. Niccols England's Eliza in
(new ed.)
Induct. 776
So soone as Tython's love-lasse gan display Her opall colours in her Easterne throne. 1594—1610(Hide quotations) ?c1225
(▸?a1200)
(Cleo. C.vi)
(1972)
73
His echȝe aa bi hald þe ȝef þu makest..ani luuelates towart unðeawes. a1400
(Pepys)
(1976)
38
Ȝiue me þi louelates, ȝe, to me and to non oþer. ?c1225—a1400(Hide quotations) 1602 T. Dekker sig. E4v
Sir Vau. I desire you to..read this Paper... Mini. Ile receiue no Loue libels perdy, but by word a mouth. 1602—1602(Hide quotations) 1855 Dec. 657/2
The love-life of Weatherford, his dauntless gallantry, his marvelous personal adventures and hair-breadth escapes, and chief of all, his wonderful eloquence. 1919 M. K. Bradby v. 59
The character and development of the infantile love for father and mother will have an influence on the whole love-life of later years. 1934 ‘R. West’ 74
Ecclesiastics..called out to sanctify the love-life of our puny little George. 1959 A. Christie viii. 89
Even Games Mistresses may have their love lives. 1972 T. Ardies xiii. 140
He's the guy who's trying to break up my love life. 2004 May 70/4
After she successfully sorts out her boss's love life, she becomes a love trainer and puts her all into sussing other people's relationships. 1855—2004(Hide quotations) 1833 H. Coleridge
(song)
10
I cease not to behold The love-light in her eye. 1852 P. J. Bailey
(ed. 5)
189
Her bright heart With lovelight glowed. 1907 17 May 2/3
In your dew-bright eyes,..Love-light shone beaming. 1950 N. Coward Sail Away in B. Day
(1998)
263/2
When the love-light is fading in your sweetheart's eye, Sail away—sail away. 1988 19 Mar. 4/1
Kylie: is that a lovelight in her eyes? 1833—1988(Hide quotations) c1390 in C. Brown
(1924)
178
Þat is Marie, Moder fre..A loue-likyng is come to me To serue þat ladi.
▸
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus
(BL Add.)
f. 259
In alle bestes is appetit of loue lykynge. c1405
(▸c1390)
G. Chaucer
(Hengwrt)
l. 138
Of romances that been reales Of Popes and of Cardynales And eek of loue-liking. 1579 T. North tr. Plutarch 1116
Sometimes she [sc. Poppaea] woulde shut her dore against Nero..bicause she woulde keepe Nero in breath, and in loue liking still. a1662 H. Lawes
(1669)
ii. 20
Short Love liking may find Jars, the Love that lasteth knows no Wars. 1834 T. De Quincey Sketches Life & Manners in Mar. 93/1
Few men go, or can go, beyond a little love-liking, as it is called. 1880 J. Payne 2
I chide it for lack of love-liking. c1390—1880(Hide quotations) 1609 T. Heywood 221
Now I these Loue-lines write. a1616 W. Shakespeare
(1623)
ii. i. 77
To giue great Charlemaine a pen in's hand And write to her a loue-line . ?1668 T. Jordan Ep. sig. A2v
Those days were spent in Love-lines, Drolls and Laughter. 1709 No. 40. 242
Shall this fresh ornament of the world, These precious love-lines, pass with other common things Amongst the wastes of time. 1914 H. Wales 263
I've been told that I have a very interesting left hand. The love line is in the left hand. 1977 16 Jan. 8/4
Little Bob looks up from Velda's love lines and takes a slug of Southern Comfort. 2006
(Nexis)
27 Oct. w12
The energy helps her interpret the lines of the palm, including the life line..and the heart or love line (from below the forefinger to below the pinky). 1609—2006(Hide quotations) 1656 Duchess of Newcastle x. 346
A procuring Bawd is to make Love-matches, and contrive Love-meetings. 1749 H. Fielding V. xiii. viii. 70
This was a Love-Match, as they call it, on both Sides; this is, a Match between two Beggars. 1869 A. Trollope I. xxv. 194
It was little enough she got by marrying him... But it was a love-match. 1915 VIII. 450/1
The Kāmasūtra permits love matches generally. 1997 C. Shaw ix. 211
Folklore invariably presents the marriage of Malcolm and Margaret as a love match. 1656—1997(Hide quotations) 1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch 1312
Eudoxus..asked the reason, why Ceres had no charge and superintendance over Love matters [Fr. des amours, Gk. τῶν ἐρωτικῶν]. 1774 D. Turner iii. 149
I do in reality think it an injury done a parent..to carry a love matter so far as I have undoubtedly done, without at least asking his consent. 1868 E. Edwards I. xv. 299
She was somewhat precocious in love matters. 2007
(Nexis)
11 Feb.
(Sports Final ed.)
37
Taurus... With love matters, stand up for yourself to avoid being taken advantage of. 1603—2007(Hide quotations) 1837 1 141
The custom of breaking love-money as a pledge of fidelity. 1837—1837(Hide quotations) 1853 A. Houssaye 222
His hand..had constructed in this palace, a graceful love-nest for his young wife. 1919 U. Sinclair xi. 65
So before long we began to notice dark hints in the newspapers; such esoteric phrases as ‘Sinclair's love-nest’. 1970 G. Greer 154
Nobody knew of his love-nest. 1972 ‘H. Howard’ ix. 124
Pamela and Frankie were sharing a love-nest at Lakeland Towers. 1999 C. Brookmyre
(2000)
84
The bastard had been using the place as his own private, five-star love nest, and the skeleton staff on duty..had assumed she was his wife. 1853—1999(Hide quotations) 1622 T. Walkley tr. J. de Luna xvi. 184
I was so loue-nettled, that if they had asked me the Phœnix..I would haue giuen it them. 1622—1622(Hide quotations) 1795 J. Hunt 25
The noise resembling the beating of a watch, is only the love-note of these animals. 1840 C. Norton 205
The borrowed love-notes of thy echoing lyre. 1842 A. De Vere 56
Take back this paper To Him that sent it... When I have written A little love note on the other side. 1940 R. Graves 41
Dangerous it had been with love-notes To serenade Queen Famine. 1960 J. Kerouac Let. 14 Sept. in
(1999)
263
I write the hostess a love note saying ‘I love you because you're a simple brunette.’ 2006 11 May 91/3
Tossed and forgotten items—love notes, missing-pet posters, grocery lists, etc. 1795—2006(Hide quotations) 1869 8 821/2
This love-object is a third person. 1916 Sept. 249
The child is now capable of the choice of a love-object accompanied by erotic feelings. 1925 J. Riviere et al. tr. S. Freud IV. 45
In the choice of their love-object they have taken as their model not the mother but their own selves. 1960 C. Day Lewis vii. 137
When it became apparent that..as a love-object, I myself was unsatisfactory, she started on dogs. 1973 S. Fisher xv. 437
Orgasm difficulties were observed to be linked to concern about the instability or potential loss of love objects. 2003 12 May 37/2
A classic serial monogamist, Breton clung to the notion of l'amour fou, the idea of the one predestined love object. 1869—2003(Hide quotations) 1620 J. Lewis 104
By prayer we shall offer vp a loue-offering, sweet and delightfull to the Lord our God. 1791 J. White II. xxviii. 168
[A] tender lay, to be presented as a love-offering to the incomparable Celestina. 1893 16 Sept.
The spokesman..presented the donations, and the parson..replied in a few touching and appropriate remarks. It was a love-offering from an appreciative people. 1935 19 Nov. 16/6
(advt.)
We need £200,000 in gifts or legacies. Send your donation, your love-offering..to the Treasurer. 1968 7 29/2
Pentecostal financial activity is personal and reciprocal,..money is given as a ‘love-offering’ in direct proportion to the importance of the non-material gift that the donor feels he has received. 2006
(Nexis)
3 Nov. 38
What is the most exotic love offering ever made? In third place is Emperor Shah Jahan who built the Taj Mahal in memory of his favourite wife. 1620—2006(Hide quotations) a1627 T. Middleton
(1657)
i. 22
Peruse this love paper as you go. Mr Low. A Letter? a1627—a1627(Hide quotations) 1872 T. Hardy I. i. viii. 113
Good luck attended Dick's love-passes during the meal. He sat next Fancy. 1872—1872(Hide quotations) 1661 v. 512
Some years after these enterchanges of love passages, Astratius of a sudden,..waved her company. 1821 W. Scott Kenilworth xvi, in
(1831)
XXII. 300
There had been some love passages betwixt him and Mistress Amy Robsart. 1845 C. M. Kirkland 106
No one..had ever been able to ascertain whether there had actually been any ‘love-passages’ between them or not. 1865 E. B. Tylor iii. 43
Love-passages of the gods and heroes. 1890 9 Sept.
This Cousin Evelyn had had a horrible love passage with Fergus McIntire. 1930 3 July 7/2
Fifi engages in her first love passage with the fugitive, Murray. 1661—1930(Hide quotations) 1846 Mar. 211/1
Many of his subjects had a feeling sense of his royal grace and condescension, in the love-pats with which he honored them. 1876 C. D. Warner i. 24
Garibaldi received one of his wounds, a sort of love-pat of fame. 1931 E. A. Wetherald 244
A little love-pat. 1999 in A. Garrod et al. xvi. 273
I couldn't bring myself to return her touch. We never talked about what her ‘love pats’ were about. 1846—1999(Hide quotations) 1889 A. Conan Doyle xxxiv. 377
You are like the same ship when the battle and the storm have..torn the love-pennants from her peak. 1889—1889(Hide quotations) 1665 J. Crowne 2
A lip-sick Lover, who with quaint Rhetorications can paint his Mistress face..and think her tears love philters. 1834 E. Bulwer-Lytton I. i. ii. 17
The very air seems to have taken a love philtre, so handsome does every face without a beard seem in my eyes. 1921 E. L. White i. v. 74
She had a local reputation for magical powers in the way of spells..love philtres, fortune-telling..and good advice on all subjects. 1995 50/1
(advt.)
Cupids [sic] Dart... Violet, daisy-like flowers with dark centers. The name refers to the Greek custom of using the plant in love philters. 1665—1995(Hide quotations) a1645 W. Strode
(1655)
iv. xiii. sig. E3/2
Sir Amorous buyes a Love-pill. 1859 vi. 45
Were an enterprising Yankee permitted to advertise ‘Love Pills’..in one year he would amass a fortune. 1931 24 Mar. 5/3
Balanescu was convicted of the sensational ‘love pill killing’ of Dorothy Kirk... The state alleged he fed the girl strange ‘love potions’ in a series of weird medical experiments until she died. 1968 T. Leary v. 100
Mind-altering chemicals... The scientist has to take the love pill. 1998
(Nexis)
21 July (Features section) 22
Our man..gives his verdict on the revolutionary love pill. My girlfriend Claire and I have a satisfying love life—but I couldn't turn down the chance to road-test Viagra. 2006
(Nexis)
19 Aug. 5
(heading)
Once..the drug of choice at rave parties and city nightclubs but now the love pill has come home. a1645—2006(Hide quotations) c1390 in F. J. Furnivall
(1901)
474
Sore I seo þe buye Al my loue-plawe. 1651 J. Ellistone tr. J. Böhme xiii. 158
All things were in equal weight of all the properties in a Love-play, as it is even so now in Paradise. a1672 P. Sterry
(1683)
291
Thus Death becometh a Love-play between Christ, and his Spouse. 1821 Ld. Byron
(2nd issue)
Pref. p. xx
A tragedy of the highest order, and not a puling love-play. 1849 Dec. 523
It was during the interlude of this dramatic love-play, that the editor of the Omni-Versus..returned to New-York. 1879 24 June 10/3
The love play of Perdican and Camille, which ends so sadly and so suddenly in poor little Rosette's heartbroken cry. 1944 T. Rattigan ii. 226
You're both very much mistaken if either of you imagines that you're going to have twopence-worth of verbal loveplay with my fiancée on my telephone. 1963 A. Heron 55
Adult heterosexuality presents fewer problems where early love play is tolerated than where it is suppressed. 1978 D. E. Stanford iii. 169
Christian Captives is primarily a love play. 1997 22
Eroticism in its religious reference venerates love play and the sexual act as divine. c1390—1997(Hide quotations) a1586 Sir P. Sidney
(1593)
v. f. 242v
The drinke he had receiued, was neither..a loue potion, nor..a deadly poyson. 1647 R. Stapylton in tr. Juvenal 85
(margin)
Philters or love-potions. 1787 G. Gregory tr. R. Lowth II. iii. xxxi. 344
Mandrake was of especial efficacy in love potions. 1868 2 186
The flower is fleshy and fragrant, and the native doctors in India use it as a sort of love-potion. 1931 R. A. Firor v. 115
Legends of the mandrake and of the ‘Hand of Glory’ are closely connected with love-potions. 2004 3 Nov. 7/1
A modern love potion for women..contains herbs reputed for centuries to have aphrodisiac qualities. a1586—2004(Hide quotations) 1592 R. Greene sig. C4v
He will perswade you hee hath twentie receiptes of Loue powders. 1623 J. Webster v. ii. sig. L4
Confesse to me Which of my women 'twas you hyr'd, to put Loue-powder into my drinke? 1678 S. Butler iii. i. 39
When he's with Love-powder laden, And Prim'd, and Cock'd by Miss, or Madam. 1742 J. Yarrow 14
There are Things call'd Charms, Bribes, and Love-Powder. 1840 F. M. Trollope xii. 125
I don't know what love-powder you have been scattering amongst us, but there is not a single individual of the family who does not positively dote upon you. 1941
(Federal Writers' Project)
99
To make a love powder, catch live humming birds, gut them without first killing them, dry the heart and powder it. 2004 L. Erdrich
(2005)
ix. 110
Love powders sometimes double back and land upon their maker, which is why an expert is always required in their use. 1592—2004(Hide quotations) 1990
(Nexis)
4 Feb.
In the place of glowing welcomes..were headlines baring:..‘love rat snubs his kid’. 1996
(Nexis)
19 Feb. 17
[He] was branded a love rat after rumours of an affair with his wife's best pal. 2003 C. Hopkins 136
‘Love rat.’ ‘That's a joke,’ I said. ‘I've only ever snogged three girls.’ 1990—2003(Hide quotations) 1666 in W. M. Myddelton 8 Jan.
(1908)
I. 140
3 doz. of love 2d Rib. 6s, 6 doz of 1d love Riben 6s. 1790 L. Paradise Let. 26 Sept. in T. Jefferson
(1965)
XVII. 520
I will Mourn..Three Months in Black Silk and love Ribbons. 1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward 330/1
Love-Ribbon..was employed to tie on Crape Hat-bands when worn at funerals, and is now occasionally worn by ladies in their caps. 1911 A. M. Earle 197
Among the ribbons advertised in the middle of the eighteenth century were paduasoy ribbons, love ribbons,..and..liberty ribbons. 2003 J. Flanders
(2004)
x. 333
Mutes, also with staffs, which had a ‘love ribbon’ tied on each one, in black normally, or in white for a young girl. 1666—2003(Hide quotations) 1600 B. Jonson ii. iii. sig. Gv
Offer no loue-rites, but let wiues still seeke them, For when they come vnsought, they seldome like them. a1754 W. Hamilton
(1850)
25
Averse she fled The pleasing love-rights of the marriage bed. 1857 H. Melville xxxix. 286
I have been deceived..in this man; he is no true friend that, in platonic love to demand love-rites? 1998
(Nexis)
21 Apr. a4
We asked whether she would similarly denounce the love rites of homosexuals. 1600—1998(Hide quotations) ?1710
(new ed.)
41
The Devil teaches them..to read Love Romances, and frequent Play-Houses. 1820 T. Hodgskin II. xiv. 448
The daughters were obliged to spin and sew; and..dared not read love-romances. 1903 Oct. 379/1
The first of these novels is a somewhat unreal and exaggerated love-romance of the Civil War. 2001 V. I. Braginsky 41
The text of the religious Canon includes fragments in various genres: religious sermons..heroic epics..and love romances (the story of Yusuf and Zulaykha). ?1710—2001(Hide quotations) a1300 in C. Brown
(1932)
68
A Mayde cristes me bit yorne þat ich hire wurche a luue-ron. a1300—a1300(Hide quotations) c1225
(▸?c1200)
(Royal)
(1981)
49
Nalde heo..nane luue runes leornin ne lustnin. c1225—c1225(Hide quotations) 1639 P. Massinger iii. iii. sig. G2v
I will bring you Where you..may see The love-scæne acted. 1749 J. Cleland I. 72
To..a recital of the love-scene, I had..been spectatress of. 1818 13 183
Love-scenes..which both French and English writers..regard as absolutely essential to their drama. 1850 J. Hannay I. i. iii. 35
Circe resumed a love-scene between Adèle and the tender forçat. 1932 R. Campbell 37
Read his [sc. Shaw's] miserable love-letters (published) and his ‘love-scene’ between Caesar and Cleopatra. 1999 T. Parsons
(2000)
xxxii. 279
Charlie wanted to fast forward over the love scenes and moments of reflection and get straight to the combat. 1639—1999(Hide quotations) 1877 W. Jones 21
The impress being two human heads..the prototype of the numerous ‘love seals’ of a later period. 1877—1877(Hide quotations) 1847 19 Dec. 3/5
(advt.)
Sofas and love seats, and convenient occasional chairs, all in the loveliest colors. 1904 P. Macquoid ix. 220
Double chairs or love-seats. 1915 F. W. Burgess 205
Such settees which closely resemble an adaptation of two single chairs, are commonly called ‘love-seats’. 1970 Dec. 21/1
A Victorian love seat Mr. Daniel saw being hauled away in a garbage truck. 1973 ‘D. Halliday’ x. 151
Johnson..kissed her, and then..found a love seat and dropped there beside her. 2006 5 Jan. 23/3
They were the first to carry three sofa sizes: the standard three-seater, the ‘mini’ sofa and the love seat. 1847—2006(Hide quotations) 1523 J. Fitzherbert ix. f. 9v
But and he [sc. the tenant] bye his corne in the market or other places, he is than at lybertie to grynde where he may be best serued, that maner of grynding is called loue Socone, and the lordes tenauntes be called bonde socon. [1656 T. Blount (at cited word)
There is Bond-socome,..and Love-Socome. [Also in later dictionaries.]]
1523—1523(Hide quotations) 1891 29 Oct. 1/3
The latest outbreak of the souvenir spoon mania is a ‘love spoon’. The bowl is heart shaped and of bright gold. 1918 W. R. Butterfield in Aug. 191/1
At first,..love-spoons did not differ greatly from the wooden spoons in ordinary use in the household. 1968 J. Arnold 193
The Welsh carvers..produced a great deal of fine work, amongst which were the celebrated love-spoons. 1972 20 Jan. 160/2
These [sc. stay busks] were rather in the manner of Welsh love-spoons and were made by young men for their intended marriage partners. 2005 Jan. 66/3
An ancient craft and a cultural symbol, the Welsh lovespoon is a token traditionally given by a young man to his beloved. Locked within each design is a special message. 1891—2005(Hide quotations) 1598 G. Chapman sig. C3
So maddam I leaue you now from our loue sportes. 1605 G. Chapman i. i
Where I am cloyde, And being bound to loue sports, care not for them. a1672 P. Sterry
(1675)
ii. 159
They lie naturally and nakedly in the bosom of each other, according to their Divine Love-sport and play in the Palace of their Father. 1726 tr. ‘D. P. E.’ 270
Amorous Riddles..are no small addition to the variety of Love Sports. 1857 J. A. Heraud
(rev. ed.)
i. ii. iii. 59
They gambolled in the love-sport, like with like. 1598—1857(Hide quotations) 1594 T. Nashe sig. E4
Not a litle was I delighted with this vnexpected loue story. 1624 P. Massinger i. iii. sig. B4
They cannot..Vsher vs to our Litters, tell loue Stories. 1781 T. Warton III. xxi. 57
This was the most favorite love-story of our old poetry. 1822 J. Clare 5 Nov.
(1985)
250
I keep writing on with my love story & think worse & worse of it as I proceed. 1890 J. M. Barrie xxiii. 190
The tragedy..is led up to by a pathetic love-story. 1938 E. Goudge xvi. 343
That famous love story, so wrapped up in legend now that it was hard to disentangle truth from falsehood. 2002 25 Feb. 62/2
Crossroads and A Walk to Remember are old-fashioned chick flicks, one a gal-bonding movie, the other a love story. 1594—2002(Hide quotations) 1592 T. Nashe
(Huntington Libr. copy)
sig. F2v
Is it..fine grace in telling of a loue tale amongst Ladies, can make a man reuerenst of the multitude? 1633 J. Shirley v. I 2 b
Forgetting all their legends, and Loue tales Of Venus, Cupid, and the scapes of Joue. 1667 J. Milton i. 452
The Love-tale Infected Sions daughters with like heat. 1773 R. Graves I. iii. v. 135
She has not been entertained with a single love-tale. 1802 J. Ritson I. p. vii
The love-tales of Longus, Heliodorus, and Xenophon of Ephesus. 1933 I. Gershwin Luckiest Man in World in
(1993)
198/1
It's quite the perfect love tale; In ev'ry way we dovetail. 1998
(Nexis)
13 Feb. 28
This bitter-sweet love tale from Hong Kong seems an unlikely mood-enhancer at first. 1592—1998(Hide quotations) 1829 82
I verily believe he would have spent half the night in mustering up the requisite courage for a gentle love-tap. 1889 ‘M. Twain’ xxxiii. 426
When I make up my mind to hit a man, I don't plan out a love-tap. 1988 M. Cohen 135
He made a mock fist and hit me on the chest, one of those little love-taps men give to each other. 2002
(National ed.)
22 Nov. b17/2
The dramatic information is slipped into the movie with devastating panache: a love tap delivered with the force of a speeding car. 1829—2002(Hide quotations) c1275
(▸?a1200)
Laȝamon
(Calig.)
(1963)
86
For he heo heuede swiþe ilofeð [read ilofed], & luf-þing hire biheite. c1275—c1275(Hide quotations) 1493
(▸c1410)
(Pynson)
x. viii. I iij b
Yt mischeif is noo curse but a louetyk of god. 1635 F. Quarles iii. vi. 146
Her frownes..may chance to show An angry love-trick [read -tick] on his arme, or so. 1493—1635(Hide quotations) 1869 A. Maclaren 2nd Ser. iv. 71
I can shut it out, sealing my heart love-tight against it. 1869—1869(Hide quotations) 1580 J. Lyly
(new ed.)
f. 66
I am nowe olde, yet haue I in my head a loue tooth. 1580—1580(Hide quotations) 1909 21 June 1/1
Two yellow men and the pretty 20 year old missionary girl..form the love triangle the police have uncovered. 1924 I. Gershwin Not so long Ago in
(1993)
41/1
If you want my angle on the love triangle, I'm for no front-headline stunts. 1999 S. L. Kasfir iv. 116
One source of conflict for these women is the love triangle—husband, wife and girlfriend (or husband, older wife and new wife). 2004 D. Klinger v. 230
It turned out to involve three guys that were living together, with some type of love triangle. 1909—2004(Hide quotations) 1835 27 May 3/1
(advt.)
Black Love Veils! A large and splendid article for mourning, rec'd. this day at May 27. 1864 29 Sept. 2/5
Black Love-Veils, very fine. 1889 Oct. 696/1
I'd rip up an' press an' clean ladies' dresses, an' do over their crape an' love veils. 1835—1889(Hide quotations) 1789 E. Darwin 93
The squab Fiend..Seeks some love-wilder'd Maid with sleep oppress'd. 1875 W. B. Scott 39
Love-wildered, I had lost my head. 1946 ‘S. O'Sullivan’ 64
Your noble silence shames my wronging thought, And all the doubts and vain imaginings wrought In the dim ways of this love-wildered brain. 1789—1946(Hide quotations) ?a1300 Dame Sirith 375 in G. H. McKnight
(1913)
17
Leue dame, if eni clerc Bedeþ þe þat loue-werc, Ich rede þat þou grante his bone. 1673 J. Dryden iv. iii. 46
She's most confoundedly ugly. If ever we had come to Love-work, and a Candle had been brought us, I had faln back from that face, like a Buck Rabbet in coupling. 1813 ‘T. Brown’ 23
The Marchesa and he..Have taken much lately to whispering in doorways;..And a house such as mine is, with door-ways so small, Has no room for such cumbersome love-work at all! 1936 G. J. Nathan
(1970)
iii. 44
It is Juliet again who has to do the love work. ?a1300—1936(Hide quotations) C7. In names of plants and animals. 1847 J. O. Halliwell
Love-bind, the herb travellers'-joy. 1886 J. Britten & R. Holland 315
Love-bind. Clematis Vitalba. 1847—1886(Hide quotations) 1937 25 July c-d 2/1
He can put up with love-bugs, kissing-bugs and lady-bird beetles from spring until frost. 1970 53 23
My first encounters with the ‘love-bugs’ were in south Louisiana in the mid-1930's. 2004 C. Bateman xxxi. 305
A pair of love bugs were mating on our windscreen. A few days ago I would have put the wipers on and squished them. Now I let them be. 1937—2004(Hide quotations) 1814 J. Lunan I. 266
Cuscuta Americana... The negroes of Liguanea mountains call it love-bush. 1904 6 Aug. 7/2
Oh, the wealth of blossom the love bush had once borne! 1954 (Jamaica Agric. Soc.) 582
The common Love-bushes of Jamaica comprise about four species of Cuscuta. 1986 O. P. Adisa 16
Her eyes stare at the hedges of love-bush, the seeds of which Carol scattered a few months ago when asking for Richard's love. 1814—1986(Hide quotations) 1702 J. Petiver in
(Royal Soc.)
23 1257
What is peculiar in this Love-grass is its having just under each spike, its stalk clammy. 1855 G. Emerson
(new ed.)
737/2
Love-grass... It is a pretty species of foreign grass, growing in gardens about a foot high in any common soil. 1945 J. M. Fogg 42
Fields solidly occupied by Purple Lovegrass are a conspicuous and attractive feature of the autumn landscape. 2000 6 Nov. 4
(caption)
Refuge planner Bonnie Swarbrick walks through a field of healthy—but non-native—Lehmann lovegrass. 1702—2000(Hide quotations) 1852 115
The little love- parrot sits beside his mate, and feeds her. 1889
Love-parrot, a love-bird. 1852—1889(Hide quotations) 1864 T. L. Phipson vii. 155
Other species of Cypræa known..by the English as ‘Love-shells’, are used as ornaments, etc. 1864—1864(Hide quotations) [1760 J. Lee App. 317
Tree of Love, Cercis.]
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore II. 697/1
Love-Tree. Cercis siliquastrum. 1889 20 Aug. 1/8
In the Allegheny City green-house is a rare tropical plant called the ‘love-tree.’ Its fruit blends the flavor of the peach, the pine apple and other sweet fruits. 2005
(Nexis)
27 Aug. (Mag.) 32
A species with which to catch out your know-all horticultural friends is Cercis siliquastrum... It's also called the love tree. Could it be because of its heart-shaped leaves? 1866—2005(Hide quotations) 1833 A. Eaton
(ed. 6)
116
Cuscuta americana, dodder, love-vine. 1885 A. Brassey 325
The long tendrils of the love-vine rolled up into coils, which he assured us would live and grow for years, if hung on a nail indoors. 1935 48 333
If you get a section of love vine and move it to another place, name it after the person about whom you want to know whether he or she is a lover of yours or not, and if the vine lives, the person does love you; if the vine dies, he or she does not. 1974 29 Sept. 39/6
I came across several plants entwined with dodder, otherwise known as love-vine. And love plants it does! It smothers them to death with its long golden strands. 1833—1974(Hide quotations) Back to top
| | This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008). In this entry:- all's fair in love and war
- fall (or †yfall, also †be taken, caught) in love, to
- fall out of love (with), to
- for (also †of) all loves
- for love
- for love
- for love or money
- for love's sake
- for my (our, etc.) love
- for the love of
- for the love of God
- for the love of Mike
- give (also bear) love to, to
- (give, †commend, †remember) my love to —
- in love (with)
- in the love of
- in the love of God
- love (—)
- love-adept
- love adventure
- love-all
- love allegory
- love amour
- love at first sight
- love-awe
- love-badge
- love ballad
- love beads
- love-bed
- love-begotten
- love bend
- love-bind
- love bite
- love-blink
- love bond
- love-book
- love-born
- love-boy
- love brat
- love-breathing
- love broker
- love-broking
- love bug
- love bush
- love call
- love cause
- love chant
- love charm
- love comic
- love creeper
- love-crossed
- love-cup
- love curl
- love dance
- love darg
- love dart
- love-darting
- love-deed
- love-deep
- love desire
- love-devouring
- love discourse
- love-dittied
- love ditty
- love dose
- love draught
- love-dread
- love dream
- love drug
- love-drunk
- love duel
- love duet
- love elegy
- love-enthralled
- love eye
- love-favour
- love-feat
- love fest
- love fever
- love-fit
- love-flight
- love-fond
- love-frayner
- love game
- love-gift
- love-glance
- love glove
- love god
- love goddess
- lovegrass
- love handle
- love-hate
- love-hate
- love-hating
- love-hatred
- love heart
- love-hood
- love-illumined
- love in a cottage
- love in disguise
- love-inspired
- love-inspiring
- love-instructed
- love interest
- love intrigue
- love is blind
- love-laboured
- love-lacking
- love-lad
- love-laden
- love-lake
- love-lass
- love-late
- love-laughing
- love-learned
- love-libel
- love life
- love-light
- love-lighted
- love-liking
- love line
- love-lit
- love-look
- love-lore
- love lyric
- love-mad
- love-madness
- love magic
- love marriage
- love match
- love matter
- love meeting
- love-melancholy
- love-money
- love-monger
- love-mongering
- love-mourning
- love nest
- love-nettled
- love note
- love object
- love-ode
- love of benevolence
- love of complacency
- love offering
- love-open
- love paper
- love-parakeet
- love-parrot
- love-pass
- love passage
- love-passion
- love pat
- love-pennant
- love-pensive
- love-performing
- love philtre
- love pill
- love play
- love-plot
- love poem
- love-poet
- love poetry
- love potion
- love powder
- love-prank
- love-prate
- love-proof
- love-quarrel
- love-quick
- love rat
- love-rhyme
- love ribbon
- love rites
- love romance
- love ron
- love roun
- love scene
- love seal
- love seat
- love-secret
- love-service
- love-shaft
- love-shaked
- love-shell
- love-smitten
- love soken
- love sonnet
- love speech
- love-spent
- love-spoon
- love-sport
- love-spring
- love-starved
- love story
- love-stricken
- love-suit
- love's young dream
- love tale
- love-talk
- love-talking
- love tap
- love-tear
- love that dare not speak its name, the
- love theme
- love-thing
- love thought
- love-tick
- love-tight
- love, to
- love tooth
- love-touched
- love-toy
- love tree
- love triangle
- love-trick
- love veil
- love verse
- love vine
- love visit
- love-whispering
- love-wildered
- love word
- love work
- love-wounded
- make love, not war
- make love, not war, to
- make love, to
- marry for love, to
- of all love
- out of love (with)
- play of love, the
- send one's love, to
- take (also nim) love to, to
- there's no love lost between them (also us, etc.)
- under love and law
- upon all loves
- (with) love from —
- (with) love to —
- yfall (also be brought) into love's dance, to
In other dictionaries: | Sort by: Entry | Date - lovable, adj.2c1422
- lovableness, n.1824
- lovably, adv.1?a1425
- lovably, adv.21825
- lovage, n.1c1300
- lovage, n.21489
- lovanenty, int.1824
- lovastatin, n.1986
- Lovat, n.1895
- love, n.1eOE
- love, n.21865
- love, v.1eOE
- love, v.2OE
- love affair, n.1598
- love-and-idle, n.1630
- love apple, n.1578
- lovebird, n.1597
- love boat, n.1870
- love bomb, n.1909
- love-bomb, v.1976
- love-bombing, n.1976
- love-child, n.1805
- lovecop, n.1252
- loved, adj. and n.OE
- loveday, n.c1300
- love-drink, n.c1330
- love-drury, n.c1300
- lovee, n.1753
- love entangled, n.1836
- love-feast, n.1573
- loveful, adj.?c1225
- love-in, n.1967
- love-in-a-mist, n.1731
- love-in-a-puzzle, n.1824
- love-in-idle, n.1664
- love-in-idleness, n.1578
- love-juice, n.1593
- lovekin, n.1896
- lovekins, n.1920
- love-knot, n.c1400
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