Love sb. World English Historical Dictionary

Love sb. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1903, rev. 2024. Love sb. Forms: 1 lufu, (lufo), 2–4 luve, 3 lou, 4, 6 loove, 5 louf, loof, 4–5 lof, lofo, 5 luf, lufue, (Sc. 4–6 luf(e, luff, 5, 8 luffe, 6 luif(e, 6, 8 luve, 6 luwe, luyf, luiff, lwiff, loif), 3– love. [OE. lufu str. fem. (also declined weak) = OHG. luba:—Teut. type *luƀâ, not found elsewhere, though Goth. has (brôþru-)lubô wk. fem., love, and lubains (stem -aini-) str. fem., hope; f. the weak-grade of the Teut. root *leuƀ-: lauƀ-: luƀ-:—OAryan *leubh-: loubh-: lubh-. Other derivatives of the wk.-grade are OS. lubig loving, and the Com. Teut. *luƀo-m, *loƀo-m LOF and its derivative *loƀôjan LOVE v.2; also OHG. gilob precious. Cognates belonging to the other grades of the root (1) from the eu grade, Com. Teut. *liuƀo- LIEF a., and its derivatives OHG. liobôn (MHG., mod.G. lieben), Du. lieven (obs., superseded by liefhebben lit. ‘to have dear’), OE. léofian, MDu. lieven, OHG. *liubên (MHG. lieben) to be dear or agreeable, OHG. *liubên (MHG. lieben) to endear, to show kindness; MDu., Du. liefde fem., love; OHG. liubî wk. fem., liuba str. fem. (MHG. liebe), MDu. lieve fem., love; (2) from the au grade, the Teut. types *lauƀâ, *galauƀon-, *galauƀjan, etc. (see LEAVE sb., BELIEF, BELIEVE v.).

1   Outside Teut. the Aryan root is represented by L. lubet (libet) it is pleasing, lubīdo (libīdo) desire, OSl. ljubŭ dear, ljuby love, ljubiti to love, Skr. lubh to desire, lōbha masc. desire.]

2   1.  That disposition or state of feeling with regard to a person which (arising from recognition of attractive qualities, from instincts of natural relationship, or from sympathy) manifests itself in solicitude for the welfare of the object, and usually also in delight in his presence and desire for his approval; warm affection, attachment. Const. of, for, to, towards.

3 c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, cviii. 5. Settun wið me yfel fore godum & laeððu fore lufan minre.

4 c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., John xv. 13. Næfð nan man maran lufe þonne ðeos ys þæt hwa sylle his lif for his freondum.

5 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 8. And to alle cristenei men beren pais and luue bi-twen.

6 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 20300. Vre leuedi wep, saint iohan alsua, Treu luue was omang þam tua.

7 1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 155. Wommen moste be ouercome with fairenesse and loue, and nouȝt wiþ sternesse and drede.

8 c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), Pref. 2. What lufe he had til his sugets.

9 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, I. viii. 44. He wende that al the kynges & knyghtes had come for grete loue and to haue done hym worship at his feste.

10 1535.  Coverdale, 2 Sam. i. 26. Thy loue hath bene more speciall vnto me, then the loue of wemen.

11 1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 415. My loue to thee is sound sans cracke or flaw.

12 1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., Pref. Adiuring me by the loue of my contrie.

13 1611.  Bible, Dan. i. 9. God had brought Daniel into fauour and tender loue with the Prince of the Eunuches.

14 1765.  Cowper, in Southey, Life & Wks. (1835), I. 155. My heart was full of love to all the congregation.

15 1818.  Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 346. The natural love which Thomas Kirby bore to his brother.

16 1836.  W. Irving, Astoria, I. 279. His dominant spirit, and his love for the white men, were evinced in his latest breath.

17 1871.  Morley, Voltaire (1886), 2. They should prove their love of him whom they had not seen, by love of their brothers whom they had seen.

18   b.  Viewed as an abstract quality or principle. (Sometimes personified.)

19 c. 1050.  Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 343/32. Affectu, for hylde and lufe.

20 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 99. O reuth o loue and charite, Was neuer hir mak.

21 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. I. 146. For trewthe telleþ þat loue is triacle of heuene.

22 1422.  trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 135. Humylite Engendryth lowe that destrueth envy and hatredyn.

23 1557.  Seager, Sch. Vertue, 815, in Babees Bk. Loue doth moue the mynde to mercie.

24 a. 1628.  Preston, Breastpl. Love (1631), 8. Love and hatred are … the great Lords and Masters, that divide the rest of the affections between them.

25 1811.  Coleridge, 7 Lect. (1856), 70. Love is a desire of the whole being to be united to some thing, or some being, felt necessary to its completeness.

26   c.  In particularized use: An instance of affection. † Also, an act of kindness.

27 c. 1000.  Prayers of Exeter Bk., iv. 115. Wæs a cearu symle lufena to leane.

28 c. 1200.  Moral Ode, 314, in Trin. Coll. Hom. Þe þe þos two luues halt and wile hes wel healde.

29 1595.  Shaks., John, IV. i. 49. What good loue may I performe for you?

30 1632.  Lithgow, Trav., V. 189. I met with an English ship … whose loues I cannot easily forget.

31 a. 1853.  Robertson, Lect., i. (1858), 25. The same feelings and anxieties and loves.

32   † d.  In OE. (contrasted with laʓu law): Amicable settlement, as opposed to litigation. Hence, in later use, occas. rendering L. fœdus treaty, covenant. Also, Under love and law; a phrase used to denote the position of being a member of a frankpledge. Obs.

33 a. 1000.  Laws of Æthelred, III. c. 13 § 1 (Schmid). And þar þeʓen aʓe tweʓen costas lufe oþþe laʓe and he þonne lufe ʓeceose.

34 1432–50.  trans. Higden (Rolls), I. 99. Oreb … the mownte of fere and of luffe [L. mons terroris et fœderis]. Ibid., II. 347, IV. 123.

35 a. 1500.  in Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 90. Yf ther bee ony persone wythin the warde that is not vnder francpledge that is to saye under love and lawe.

36   e.  (Give) my love to..., or Love to...: a formula of request that the person addressed will convey the expression of the speaker’s or writer’s affection to a third person. Also to send one’s love.

37 1630.  Winthrop, in New Eng. (1825), I. 378. Commend me to all our friends. My love and blessing to your brother and sisters [etc.].

38 1765.  Cowper, Lett. to J. Hill, 14 Aug. My love to all your family. Ibid. (1793), Lett. to W. Hayley, 34 Feb. With Mary’s kind love.

39 1837.  Dickens, Pickw., ix. Love to Tuppy!

40 1854.  W. Collins, Hide & Seek, II. iv. (1861), 183. ‘I will write and comfort your mother this very afternoon—’ ‘Give her my love,’ interposed Zack.

41   2.  In religious use, applied in an eminent sense to the paternal benevolence and affection of God towards His children, to the affectionate devotion due to God from His creatures, and to the affection of one created being to another so far as it is prompted by the sense of their common relationship to God. (Cf. CHARITY 1.)

42   Theologians distinguish the love of complacency, which implies approval of qualities in the object, and the love of benevolence, which is bestowed irrespective of the character of the object.

43 c. 975.  Rushw. Gosp., John v. 42. Ah ic cuðe iowih þætte lufo ʓodes ne habbas ʓe in iow.

44 c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 141. Ure drihten forgiaf hire hire sinnen for two þinge, an is muchel leððe to hire sunne oðer muchel luue to him.

45 a. 1310.  in Wright, Lyric P., 70. Jhesu, suete love the dude gredyn.

46 1526.  Tindale, 1 John v. 3. This is the love of god, that we kepe his commaundementes.

47 1611.  Bible, 1 John iv. 16. God is loue, and hee that dwelleth in loue, dwelleth in God.

48 1650.  E. Leigh, Annot. New Test., 220. There is a two fold love in God. 1. Amor benevolentiæ, a love of well willing … 2. Amor complacentiæ, a love of complacency.

49 1794.  Coleridge, Relig. Musings, 192. Lord of unsleeping Love, From everlasting Thou!

50 1876.  Mozley, Univ. Serm., ii. 29. Love in the Gospel sense is that general virtue which covers the motives.

51   3.  Strong predilection, liking or fondness for, or devotion to (something). Const. of, for, to (arch.), † unto. † To give, bear love to: to be devoted or addicted to.

52 c. 900.  trans. Bæda’s Hist., IV. xxvii. (Schipper), 514. Swa mycel lufu to godcundre lare.

53 c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 4067. And for luue of ðis hore-plaȝe Manie for-leten godes laȝe.

54 1422.  trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 218. Philosophie is no more but loue of witte and cvnnynge.

55 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 237 b. Blynde avarice and love of money.

56 1611.  Bible, Transl. Pref., 2. For the loue that he bare vnto peace.

57 1726.  Pope, Postscript to Odyssey, V. 305. Let our love to Antiquity be ever so great.

58 1773.  Mrs. Chapone, Improv. Mind (1774), II. 32. The love of truth, and a real desire of improvement.

59 c. 1810.  Coleridge, in Lit. Rem. (1838), III. 303. Those vicious habits in which there is no love to sin.

60 1877.  Gladstone, Glean., I. 148. The love of freedom itself is hardly stronger in England than the love of aristocracy.

61 1887.  Fowler, Princ. Mor., II. i. 11. Among these primary desires should be specified the love of ease and the love of occupation.

62 1888.  C. Patmore, in B. Champneys, Mem. (1900), II. iv. 43. When I was about fifteen my love for poetry began to get the better of my love for science.

63   4.  That feeling of attachment that is based upon difference of sex; the affection that subsists between lover and sweetheart and is the normal basis of marriage. For love († in love): by reason of love (often placed in opposition to pecuniary considerations).

64 c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xxix. 20. Iacob him hirsumode þa seofan ʓear for Rachele and hit þuhte him feawa daʓa for þære lufe, þe he to hire hæfde.

65 c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 47. For to drahen his luue toward hire.

66 c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, I. 508. Now art þow yn þe snare That whilom Iapedest at loues peyne.

67 a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 226. Þe lede lawid in hire lofe as leme dose of gledis.

68 1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, xlvi. 4. I hard a merle with mirry notis sing A sang of lufe.

69 1540.  Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), N ij. They that mary for love, shall lead their life in sorrow.

70 1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 750. Haile wedded Love, mysterious Law, true sourse Of human ofspring.

71 1776.  Johnson, in Boswell, 28 March. It is commonly a weak man who marries for love.

72 a. 1834.  Moore, Irish Mel., Love’s Yng. Dream, i. But there’s nothing half so sweet in life As love’s young dream.

73 a. 1849.  Poe, Annabel Lee, 9. We loved with a love that was more than love—I and my Annabel Lee.

74   b.  As a motive in imaginative literature.

75 1779–81.  Johnson, L. P., Addison. The greatest weakness of the play is in the scenes of love … Yet the love is so intimately mingled with the whole action, that [etc.].

76 1859.  Macaulay, Biogr., W. Pitt (2nd par.). This piece … is in some respects highly curious. There is no love. The whole plot is political.

77   c.  An instance of being in love. Also collect. pl., amatory relations, love-affairs.

78 1589.  Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xxiii. (Arb.), 276. Nothing is so vnpleasant to a man, as to be encountred in his chiefe affection, and specially in his loues.

79 1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. ii. 3. Like a young Squire, in loves and lusty-hed His wanton daies that ever loosely led.

80 1604.  Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 41. Oth. Thinke on thy sinnes. Des. They are Loues I beare to you.

81 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 490. All the Rapes of Gods, and ev’ry Love, From ancient Chaos down to youthful Jove.

82 1738.  Swift, Pol. Conversat., 103. I suppose, the Colonel was cross’d in his first Love.

83 1844.  Disraeli, Coningsby, VIII. ii. The sweet pathos of their mutual loves.

84 1849.  G. P. R. James, Woodman, ii. The loves of Mars and Venus.

85   d.  Babe of love: = LOVE-CHILD.

86 1728–42.  Pope, Dunc., II. 158. Two babes of love close clinging to her waist.

87 1807.  Crabbe, Par. Reg., I. (1810), 70. Recorded next a Babe of love I trace! Of many loves, the Mother’s fresh disgrace.

88   5.  (With capital.) The personification of sexual affection; usu. masculine, and more or less identified with the Eros, Amor, or Cupid of classic mythology; formerly sometimes feminine, and capable of being identified with Venus. (See also 8 a.)

89 13[?].  in Wright, Lyric P., xvi. 53. To love y putte pleyntes mo.

90 c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, I. 353. For loue bygan his fetheres so to lyme.

91 1435.  Misyn, Fire of Love, II. xii. 102. Weil it is sayd in play ‘luf gos before & ledis þe dawns.’

92 1566.  Painter, Pal. Pleas., I. 79 b. Notwithstanding dame Love is so favourable unto mee.

93 1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 380. Fore runne faire Loue, strewing her way with flowers.

94 1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 763. Here Love his golden shafts imploies, here lights His constant Lamp, and waves his purple wings.

95 1805.  Scott, Last Minstrel, III. ii. In peace, Love tunes the shepherd’s reed; In war, he mounts the warrior’s steed.

96 1868.  FitzGerald, trans. Omar, cviii. (1899), 103. Ah Love! could you and I with Fate conspire.

97   b.  with pl. A Cupid; one of the multitude of nameless gods of love imagined by mythologists; a figure or representation of the god of love.

98 1594.  Spenser, Amoretti, xvi. Legions of loves with little wings did fly.

99 1663.  Cowley, Acme & Septimius. All around The little Loves, that waited by, Bow’d, and bless’d the Augury.

100 1732.  Swift, Strephon & Chloe, Wks. 1755, IV. I. 150. The smiling Cyprian goddess brings Her infant loves with purple wings.

101 1793[?].  Coleridge, Autumn. Evening, 49–50. A thousand Loves around her forehead fly; A thousand Loves sit melting in her eye.

102 a. 1839.  Praed, Poems (1864), II. 63. Where’er her step in beauty moves, Around her fly a thousand loves.

103   6.  The animal instinct between the sexes, and its gratification.

104 c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xxxvii. (Vincencius), 13. Fals erroure, & lufe vnclene, & warldis dout als.

105 1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 185. A ȝongelynge … þat hadde obleged hym self to the devel for þe love of a wenche.

106 c. 1560.  A. Scott, Poems (S.T.S.), vi. 27. A leddy als, for luf, to tak Ane propir page, hir tyme to pass.

107 1567.  Satir. Poems Reform., iv. 28. Hir licherous luife, quhilk kindlit ouer hait.

108 1611.  Bible, Prov. vii. 18. Come, let vs take our fill of loue vntill the morning.

109 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 102. Six Seasons use; but then release the Cow, Unfit for Love, and for the lab’ring Plough.

110   7.  Phrases (chiefly with prepositions).

111   a.  For the love of: for the sake of, on account of. † Also For my (our, etc.) love = for my (our, etc.) sake.

112   Now only where some notion of the literal sense is implied (chiefly in adjurations); in early use often merely idiomatic, = L. causa, gratia. In OE. the sb. was often plural.

113 c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxii. § 2. Ic wille [þe oðewan] forlustlice for þinum lufum [L. tui causa libenter].

114 971.  Blickl. Hom., 23. Eal þis he þrowode for ure lufan.

115 c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues (1888), 7. Alle ðe ðis isieð … i bidde and warni, for ðe luue of gode … þat ȝie hatien … ðes awerȝhede senne.

116 a. 1300.  Cursor M., 14683. Forþ in dedes gode … We wil noght stan þe, parfai! But … for þe luue o þi missau.

117 c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xxix. (Placidas), 163. Sa hyme, for þe luf of me, þat in my nam he baptis þe.

118 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XIII. xvi. We shalle destroye alle the knyghtes of kyng Arthurs … for the loue of syr Galahad.

119 a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 62. Required the Englishe lordes for the love of God that the truce might continue.

120 1587.  Ianes, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1600), III. 112. The Sauages came to the Island … and tore the two vpper strakes, and carried them away onely for the loue of the yron in the boords.

121 1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 850. Impose some seruice on me for thy loue. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., II. iii. 92. For the loue o God, peace.

122 1710.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 8 Dec. I begged Mr. Harley, for the love of God, to take some care about it.

123 1859.  Tennyson, Vivien, 410. A Table Round, That was to be, for love of God and man And noble deeds, the flower of all the world.

124   † b.  For or of all (the) loves, upon all loves, of all love: a phrase of strong adjuration or entreaty. Similarly, for love’s sake. Obs.

125 c. 1400.  Sowdone Bab., 1587. Sir, for alle loues, Lete me thy prisoneres seen.

126 a. 1425.  Cursor M., 20380 (Trin.). Whi wepestou what is þe For alle loues [earlier texts, for felaured, for felauschip,] telle now me.

127 1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, Amabo … Of felowshippe: of all loues: I pray the: as euer thou wilte doe me good turne.

128 1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., II. ii. 153. Speake of all loues; I sound almost with feare.

129 1618.  Ussher, Lett. (1686), 64. I do intreat you of all Love, to look over the first Edition.

130 1620.  Middleton, Chaste Maid, III. i. 31. O sweet Father, for Loues sake pittie me.

131 1624.  Bp. Mountagu, Immed. Addr., 185. She … intreateth him that was worshipped vpon the Altar, of all loves, mercies, and works of wonder, to restore her vnto her health.

132 c. 1646.  in 2nd Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., 87/1. [10l.] which I desire you of all love to pay upon sight of this my letter.

133 1655.  J. S., Phillis of Scyros, III. iv. 63. For loves sake, doe not press me to relate So long a story now.

134 1829.  Whewell, in Life (1881), 133. Beg her of all love to establish herself in a more collegiate part of Cambridge.

135   c.  For love or money: at any price, by any means. (Used in negative contexts.)

136 [971.  Blickl. Hom., 43. Ne for feo, ne for nanes mannes lufon.

137 13[?].  Coer de L., 1476. Neythyr for love, neyther for eye.

138 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. I. 101. And neuer leue hem for loue ne for lacchyng of syluer.]

139 1590.  C. S., Right Relig., 18. Then should not men eyther for loue or money haue pardons.

140 1609.  Dekker, Guls Horne-bk., vi. 30. If you can (either for loue or money) prouide your selfe a lodging by the water side.

141 1712.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 7 Aug. No more ghosts now for love or money.

142 1837.  Sir F. Palgrave, Merch. & Friar, i. (1844), 18. Any person who, for love or money, might be induced to take the letter in his charge.

143 1869.  March, Gram. Anglo-Saxon, Pref. iv. He let me … use … Anglo-Saxon texts not elsewhere to be had for love or money.

144   d.  In love (with): enamored (of), imbued with love (for); transf. very fond (of) or much addicted (to).

145   [Cf. F. ‘Estre en amour, said of birds that bill, tread, or breed’ (Cotgr.).]

146 1508.  Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 191. He is for ladyis in luf a right lusty schadow.

147 1577.  B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb. (1586), 5. He would talke … of the stories of the Scripture, so sweetely … as I was woonderfully in loue with him.

148 1581.  Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., III. (1586), 140. A woman cannot possibly doe any thing yt may make her husband more in love with her, then to play the good huswife.

149 1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., II. i. 87. I was in loue with my bed.

150 1664.  Butler, Hud., II. i. 267. Quoth she, Y’ have almost made m’ in Love With that which did my pity move.

151 1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., IV. xvii. § 24. He that believes, without having any reason for believing, may be in love with his own fancies.

152 1727.  Gay, Begg. Op., I. x. (1729), 14. What, is the fool in love in earnest then?

153 1828.  Macaulay, Ess., Hallam’s Const. Hist. Its conduct, we are told, made the excellent Falkland in love with the very name of Parliament.

154 1881.  Lucy B. Walford, Dick Netherby, xvii. 213. He was not himself in love.

155 1896.  A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, xviii. Oh, when I was in love with you, Then I was clean and brave.

156   e.  Out of love (with): the opposite of in love (with); disgusted (with).

157 1581.  Pettie, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., I. (1586), 10. Hee seemeth either too farre in loue with himselfe, or to farre out of loue with others.

158 1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., IV. iv. 210. I should haue scratch’d out your vnseeing eyes, To make my Master out of loue with thee. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., III. i. 174. I am so out of loue with life.

159 1722.  De Foe, Relig. Courtsh., I. i. (1840), 4. What’s the matter, that you are so out of love with the world all on a sudden?

160 1754.  Richardson, Grandison, III. xi. 83. Lord W.’s animosity to my father made him out of love with his name.

161   f.  To fall († be taken or caught) in love: to become enamored; transf. to become very fond of, dote upon. Const. with. † Also, to fall, be brought into love’s dance.

162   Cf. F. tomber en amour (15th c. in Littré).

163 1423.  James I., Kingis Q., xlv. So ferre I-fallyng Into lufis dance.

164 1530–1866.  [see FALL v. 38 b].

165 c. 1530.  Hickscorner (Manly), 204. Than in-to loves daunce we were brought.

166 1568.  Grafton, Chron., I. 37. Locryne fell in great phancy and love with a faire Damosell.

167 1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 345. Of which water who so drinketh, shall bee caught in Love.

168 1596.  Spenser, F. Q., IV. vi. heading, He sees her face; doth fall in love, And soone from her depart.

169 1606.  G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Ivstine, XLIII. 134. With the pleasantnesse of which, they were so taken in loue, that [etc.].

170 1887.  Rider Haggard, Jess, iv. John Niel was no chicken, nor very likely to fall in love with the first pretty face he met.

171   g.  To make love: to pay amorous attention; with to = to court, woo. [After F. faire l’amour or It. far l’amore.]

172 1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 290. A Phrase now there is which belongeth to your Shoppe boorde, that is, to make loue.

173 1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., I. i. 107. Demetrius … Made loue to Nedars daughter. Ibid. (1602), Ham., V. ii. 57. Why, man, they did make loue to this imployment. Ibid. (1605), Macb., III. i. 124. Thence it is That I to your assistance doe make loue. Ibid. (1605), Lear, V. iii. 88. If you will marry, make your loues to me.

174 1663.  Cowley, Hymn to Light, ii. Thou golden Shower of a true Jove! Who does in thee descend, and Heav’n to Earth make love!

175 1712.  Addison, Spect., No. 517, ¶ 2. The Widow Lady whom he had made love to.

176 1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journ. (1775), I. 31 (Remise Door). You have been making love to me all this while.

177 a. 1845.  Hood, Poems (1846), I. 213. Oh there’s nothing in life like making love.

178 1860.  Sat. Rev., IX. 306. How often … do we make love to the charms of cousins and avuncular expectations.

179   † h.  In the love of: beloved by. Obs. rare.

180 1631.  Weever, Anc. Funeral Mon., 417. He also departed this world, in the loue of all good men.

181   8.  In various proverbs and proverbial phrases.

182   a.  Proverbs.

183 c. 1470.  Henryson, Mor. Fab., III. xvii. in Anglia, IX. 357. The prouerbe sayis ‘als gude luif cummis as gais.’

184 1474.  Caxton, Chesse, III. iii. Herof men say a comyn proverbe in englond, that loue lasteth as longe as the money endurith.

185 1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., II. vi. 36. Loue is blinde.

186 1611.  Cotgr., s.v. Amour, Loue, and the Cough cannot be hidden.

187 a. 1618.  Raleigh, Rem. (1664), 35. Love needs no teaching.

188   b.  Labor of love: work undertaken either from fondness for the work itself, or from desire to benefit persons whom one loves.

189   [An allusion to 1 Thess. i. 3, ‘Your worke of faith and labour of loue,’ and Heb. vi. 10.]

190 1673.  Lady’s Call., II. iii. § 12. Women … founded Hospitals, and yet with a labor of love, as the Apostle styles it, Heb. vi. 10, disdain’d not somtimes to serve in them.

191 1853.  Kingsley, Hypatia, ix. The humble stock phrases in which they talked of their labours of love.

192 1878.  Black, Goldsmith, xiv. 131. During this labour of love [the composition of the Deserted Village].

193   c.  Love in a cottage: a euphemistic expression for marriage with insufficient means.

194 1812.  Mar. Edgeworth, Absentee, iv. 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.

195 [1820.  Keats, Lamia, II. i. Love in a hut, with water and a crust, Is—Love, forgive us!—cinders, ashes, dust.]

196 1894.  H. Gardener, Unoff. Patriot, 239. Here’s more love in a cottage business for you.

197   d.  There’s no love lost between them: an ambiguous phrase, which has been employed with two contrary implications. † (a) Their affection is mutual. Obs.

198 c. 1640.  R. Davenport, Surv. Sci., Wks. (Bullen, 1890), 327. Oh my sweete! Sure there is no loue lost when you two meete.

199 16[?].  Children in Wood, ii. in Percy, Reliq. (1765), III. 172. No love between these two was lost, Each was to other kinde.

200 1696.  M. Henry, Life P. Henry (1699), 8. Dr. Busby … took a particular Kindness to him,… and there was no Love lost betwixt them.

201 1706.  Motteux, Quix., II. xxxiii. (1749), III. 266. I love him well, and there’s no love lost between us.

202 1749.  Smollett, Gil Blas (1797), III. 233. 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].

203 1773.  Goldsm., Stoops to Conq., IV. As for murmurs, mother, we grumble a little now and then, to be sure. But there’s no love lost between us.

204 1823.  Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. New Year’s Coming of Age. There was no love lost for that matter.

205 1824.  N. Drake, Noontide Leisure, II. 54. Give me your hand … and let me tell you … there is no love lost between us.

206   (b)  Now always: They have no love for each other.

207 1622[?].  J. Taylor (Water P.), Trav. Twelve-pence, Wks. (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.

208 1748.  Richardson, Clarissa (1768), III. 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.

209 1858.  Thackeray, Virgin., xvii. I. 134. There was not a great deal of love lost between Will and his half-sister.

210 1866.  Howells, Venet. Life, 121. Americans do not like these people and I believe there is no love lost on the other side.

211 1889.  T. A. Trollope, What I remember, III. 91. Between Italian and French radicals there is really no love lost.

212   9.  A beloved person: esp. a sweetheart; chiefly applied to a female person, but sometimes to a male. (Often used as a term of endearing address.)

213 a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 1531. He is mi lif & mi luue.

214 c. 1369.  Chaucer, Bk. Duchesse, 91. And wher my lord, my love, be deed?

215 1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. IV. 49. Rose Reginoldes loue [text A lemmon].

216 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 672. Ful loude he song ‘Com hider, love, to me.’

217 14[?].  Sir Beues, 2019 (MS. M.). Beuys, loue dere, Ryde nat fro me in no manere!

218 1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, VII. xxxv. 269. He is my fyrst loue and he shal be the laste.

219 a. 1592.  Marlowe, Pass. Sheph. to his Love. Liue with me and be my Loue.

220 1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 277. Whether Bassanio had not once a Loue.

221 1600.  Dr. Dodypoll, III. v. in Bullen, Old Plays, III. 135. Why, love? doubt you that? Ibid., 136. Thou art growne passing strange, my love.

222 c. 1606.  Wither, Love Sonn., iii. in Descr. Love (1638), C 4. In Summer time to Medley My love and I would goe.

223 1767.  Sir W. Jones, Seven Fountains, Poems (1777), 37. Told to their smiling loves their amorous tales.

224 1818.  Scott, ‘Old Song,’ in Br. Lamm., xxix. It is best to be off wi’ the old love, Before you be on wi’ the new.

225 a. 1834.  Moore, Yng. May Moon, 1. The young May moon is beaming, love.

226 1860.  C. Patmore, Faithful for ever, III. ii. 180. And there’s another thing, my Love, I wish you’d show you don’t approve.

227 1900.  Barrie, Tommy & Grizel, xxv. 303. There are poor dogs of men … who open their letters from their loves, knowing exactly what will be in them.

228   b.  transf. of animals.

229 1697.  Dryden, Æneid, VIII. 288. One Heifar who had heard her Love complain, Roar’d from the Cave.

230 1792.  Wolcot (P. Pindar), Wks., III. 259. Her feather’d Partner … Now for his loves pursues his airy way, And now with food returns.

231   † c.  In reference to illicit relations: A paramour; said of both men and women. Obs.

232 c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), xiv. 154. And whan thai wil have ony companye of man … than thei have Loves, that usen hem.

233 1462.  Paston Lett., II. 98. He bydeth but a tyme that he myght gete a summe of money to geders … and to gone ther with a love of his sojornyng as yette in Hokehold.

234 1588.  M. Kyffin, trans. Terence’s Andria, I. iii. C iv b. Whether she be wife to Pamphilus, or but his loue, I knowe not.

235 1598.  Shaks., Merry W., III. v. 79. To serch his house for his wiues Loue.

236 1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 768. They haue one wife, many loues.

237   d.  gen. The object of love; the beloved (of …).

238 1734.  Pope, Ess. Man, IV. 190. The lover and the love of human-kind.

239 1754.  Chatham, Lett. Nephew, iv. 28. Make yourself the love and admiration of the world.

240 1818.  Byron, Ch. Har., IV. clxx. In the dust The fair-hair’d Daughter of the Isles is laid, The love of millions!

241   e.  A charming or delightful person or thing; a ‘duck.’ colloq.

242 1814.  Jane Austen, Lett. (1884), II. 241. The garden is quite a love.

243 1831.  Lady Granville, Lett., 28 Feb. A pretty, tiny daughter, whom my girls think a love.

244 1841.  S. Warren, Ten Thous. a-year, II. 75. He’s a love of a man, pa, isn’t he?

245 1844.  L. Hunt, Blue-Stocking Revels, i. 26, Poems 103. Such doves of Petitions, and loves of sweet Pray’rs.

246 1864.  W. H. Ainsworth, John Law, Prol. vi. (1881), 35. Nankin has the tiniest teacups you ever beheld—perfect loves!

247 1889.  ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms, xxiv. What a love of a chain!

248   10.  a. For love: without stakes, for nothing; applied to the practice of playing a competitive game for the pleasure of playing.

249 1678.  Butler, Hud., III. i. 1007. For these at Beste and L’Ombre [you] wooe, And play for love and money too.

250 1813.  Sporting Mag., XLI. 296. A match of … single-stick, was played … for what is technically termed Love and a Belly-full.

251 1821.  Lamb, Elia, Ser. I. New Year’s Eve. I play over again for love, as the gamesters phrase it, games for which I once paid so dear.

252 1844.  Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xxxii. Mrs. Todgers … proposed that … they should play for ‘love.’

253   b.  In various competitive games of skill, e.g., whist, football, tennis, racquets: No score, nothing; meaning that the party said ‘to be love’ has scored no points in the game then in progress. Love all: no score on either side.

254 1742.  Hoyle, Whist, i. 13. If your Adversary is 6 or 7 Love, and you are to lead.

255 1780.  Gentl. Mag., L. 322/2. We are not told how, or by what means Six love comes to mean Six to nothing.

256 1797.  Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVIII. 380/2. As the games are won, so they are marked and called; as one game love, two games to one, &c.

257 1885.  Pall Mall G., 2 March, 10/2. In the Rugby game Northampton beat Coventry by a try to love.

258 1898.  Encycl. Sport, II. 242/1. The marker’s … duty is to call the game … from the start at ‘love all.’… ‘Love,’ in the game of rackets, as in other games, signifies nothing.

259   c.  Applied attrib. to a game or set of games in which there is nothing scored on one side.

260 1833.  T. Hook, Parson’s Dau. (1847), 57. Can’t make a hazard … and has lost two love games.

261 1878.  J. Marshall, Ann. Tennis, 158. Love-set, a set in which one player wins six consecutive games; or, in case of an advantage-set, seven consecutive games.

262 1884.  Pall Mall G., 25 April, 3/2. In the two first days’ play the whole of the heats were love victories.

263   † 11.  A game of chance in which one player holds up a certain number of fingers, and the other, without seeing, guesses their number. = MORA. Obs.

264 1585.  Higgins, Junius’ Nomenclator, 297/2. Micare digitis,… a play vsed in Italy,… it is called there … the play of loue.

265 1611.  Cotgr., Mourre, the play of loue.

266 1653.  Urquhart, Rabelais, I. xxii. 94. There he played … At love [orig. a la mourre].

267 1725.  Bailey, Erasm. Colloq. (1733), 205. The Countrymens Play of holding up our Fingers (dimicatione digitorum, i.e. the Play of Love).

268   12.  A variant of the game of EUCHRE.

269 1886.  Euchre, 41. Slam, Love, or Skunk.

270   † 13.  ‘A kind of thin silk stuff’ (J.). formerly used when in mourning; a border of this. Orig. love-hood. Obs. (Cf. love-ribbon in 16 below.)

271 1663.  Boyle, Exper. Colours, III. ix. (1664), 198. Such a kind of Transparency, as that of a Sive, a piece of Cyprus, or a Love-Hood.

272 1747.  Mrs. Delany, Lett. to Mrs. Dewes, in Life & Corr., 478. I shall make no more dark things; after three months black silk is worn with love hood.

273 1751.  Lond. Daily Advertiser, 21 Dec. (N. & Q., 1st Ser. X. 206). A black velvet cloak with a love coarsely run round it.

274 1825–9.  Mrs. Sherwood, Lady of Manor, II. x. 63. He was dressed in white, having a sash of black love.

275   14.  a. An old name for Traveller’s Joy or Virgin’s Bower, Clematis Vitalba; also love-bind (see 16 b). b. (see quot. 1874.)

276 1640.  Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 384. In English of most country people where it groweth [called] Honestie; and the Gentlewomen call it Love, but Gerard coyned that name of the Travelours joy.

277 1657.  S. Purchas, Pol. Flying-Ins., I. xv. 95. Bees gather of these flowers following … In July … Love.

278 1874.  Treas. Bot., Suppl., Love, a name used in Tasmania for Comesperma volubile.

279   15.  Obvious combinations.

280   a.  simple attributive, as love-adept, -adventure, -ballad, -bed, -desire, -discourse, -ditty, -dream, -elegy, -eye, -fit, -gift, -glance, -god, intrigue, -laughing, -light, -lore, -madness, -melancholy, -mourning, -note, -ode, -passion, -passion, -plot, -poem, † -prate, -quarrel, -rime, -service, -shaft, -speech, † -spring, -talking, -tear, -thought, -toy, -trick, -verse, -word etc.

281 1821.  Shelley, Prometh. Unb., I. i. 738. Dreaming like a *love-adept.

282 1711.  Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), I. 271. In relation to common amours and *love-adventures.

283 1565.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Amor, Componere amores … To make *loue balades.

284 1594.  Shaks., Rich. III., III. vii. 72. He is not lulling on a lewd *Loue-Bed.

285 1628.  Ford, Lover’s Mel., IV. iii. The Incense of my *loue-desires are flam’d Vpon an Altar of more constant proofe.

286 1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., II. iv. 126. I know you ioy not in a *Loue-discourse.

287 a. 1711.  Ken, Christophil, Poet. Wks. 1721, I. 476. I … Who for Two thousand Years, or rather more, Have sung the like *Love-ditties o’re and o’re.

288 1808.  Scott, Marm., I. vii. And frame love-ditties passing rare.

289 a. 1400.  Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., 449/20. Þou make in me þi *loue-dreem.

290 1616–61.  Holyday, Persius, 295. Weak *Love-elegies, such as Rome’s nobles speak.

291 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 3128. Lokyng on lenght with a *loue ee.

292 1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, IV. (Arb.), 112. Or fro this hoat *looue fits I shal bee shortlye retrayted.

293 1679.  J. Goodman, Penitent Pardoned, II. i. (1713), 150. Taken with an agony of mind, or a kind of love-fit.

294 1821.  Byron, Sardan., III. i. 401. Again the love-fit’s on him.

295 1645.  Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 379. Christ is God’s highest *love-gift.

296 1876.  Browning, Cenciaja, 279.        The simpleton must ostentatiously Display a ring, the Cardinal’s love-gift.

297 1821.  Keats, Lamia, I. 102. The *love-glances of unlovely eyes.

298 c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonn., cliv. The little *Loue-God lying once asleepe.

299 1887.  Bowen, Virg. Æneid, I. 662. She addresses the Love-god plumed for the flight.

300 1684.  Otway, Atheist, II. i. Wks. 1728, I. 34. Your *Love-Intreagues are not so closely manag’d, but that [etc.].

301 13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1777. With *luf-laȝyng [= laughing] a lyt.

302 1833.  Coleridge, Song, ‘She is not Fair,’ 10. I cease not to behold The *love-light in her eye.

303 1839.  Bailey, Festus (1852), 513. Her bright heart With lovelight glowed.

304 1754.  H. Walpole, Lett. (1846), III. 64. That living academy of *love-lore, my Lady Vane.

305 1884.  Harper’s Mag., Dec., 134/1. *Love-madness is nothing new.

306 1621.  Burton, Anat. Mel., III. *Love Melancholy.

307 a. 1290.  S. Eustace, in, in Horstm., Altengl. Leg. (1881), 213. Ssore i-bounden … wiþ *loue mourninge Of Crist þat alle þinge shop.

308 1840.  Mrs. Norton, Dream, etc., 205. The borrowed *love-notes of thy echoing lyre.

309 1689.  Prior, Ep. Fleetwood Shephard, 50. Pigs might squeak *love-odes, dogs bark satire.

310 1583.  T. Watson, Poems, To Rdr. (Arb.), 27. In respect of my trauaile in penning these *loue-passions.

311 1670.  Dryden, 2nd Pt. Conq. Granada, I. ii. I’ll your *love-plot quickly countermine.

312 1847.  Tennyson, Princess, IV. 102. And this A mere *love-poem.

313 1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., IV. i. 206. You haue simply misus’d our sexe in your *loue-prate.

314 1671.  Milton, Samson, 1008. *Love-quarrels oft in pleasing concord end.

315 1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., III. i. 183. Don Cupid, Regent of *Loue-rimes.

316 1561.  T. Hoby, trans. Castiglione’s Courtyer, III. (1577), N v b. with what sober mode they shewe fauor to who so is in their *loue seruice.

317 1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 159. Cupid … loos’d his *loue-shaft smartly from his bow.

318 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 204. Mid tollinde wordes, oðer mid *luue speche.

319 a. 1310.  in Wright, Lyric P., 70. Jhesu … Thy *love sprenges tacheth me.

320 1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., III. ii. 3. Shall Antipholus Euen in the spring of Loue, thy Loue-springs rot? Ibid. (1599), Hen. V., V. ii. 101. Tearmes, Such as will … pleade his *Loue-suit to her gentle heart.

321 13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 927. I hope þat may hym here Schal lerne of *luf-talkyng.

322 a. 1310.  in Wright, Lyric P., 70. Of *love teres he weop a flod.

323 1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., I. i. 41. *Loue-thoughts lye rich, when canopy’d with bowres.

324 a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, III. (1598), 390. These are your *loue-toyes, which still are spent In lawlesse games.

325 1647.  Trapp, Comm. Col. iv. 16. Other good books must be read … yet not idle pamphlets, and love-toies.

326 1590.  T. Watson, Eglogue Death Sir F. Walsingham, 266. Let them suppose sweete Musicke out of vse, and wanton *louetricks to be foolish toies.

327 1611.  Cotgr., Amourettes, loue-trickes.

328 1826.  Syd. Smith, Wks. (1859), II. 90/2. All the various love-tricks of attempting to appear indifferent.

329 a. 1708.  Walsh, in Dryden, Misc. (1727), IV. 335. Petrarch … being by much the most famous of all the Moderns who have written *Love-Verses.

330 a. 1240.  Ureisun, in Cott. Hom., 201. Hwi ne con ich wowen þe wið swete *luue wordes.

331 a. 1651.  Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (1843), II. 352. Manie love words she useth to Bothwell in this letter.

332 1883.  Longm. Mag., Aug., 368. Why did her love-words echo in his ear?

333   b.  objective and objective genitive, as love-breathing, -darting, -devouring, -inspiring, -lacking etc.; love-† frayner (= asker), -monger etc.

334 1730–46.  Thomson, Autumn, 593. In rapture warbled from *love-breathing lips.

335 1605.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. IV. Captains, 849. Her sweet, *love-darting Eyn.

336 1634.  Milton, Comus, 753. Love-darting eyes.

337 1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. vi. 7. Then *Loue-deuouring death do what he dare.

338 a. 1400.  Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. (1867), 59. Þat he ne do no trispase agayne þe rewle … of þis relegion, and of þase *lufe frayners.

339 1797.  Mrs. M. Robinson, Walsingham, I. 277. The *love-inspiring dames of luxurious Italy.

340 1532.  More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 403/1. His false *loue-lacking charitie.

341 1592.  Shaks., Ven. & Ad., cxxv. Loue-lacking vestals, and selfe-louing Nuns. Ibid. (1588), L. L. L., II. i. 253. Thou art an old *Loue-monger.

342 1882.  Spectator, 9 Dec., 1579. His [Sterne’s] *lovemongering was altogether contemptible.

343 1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., III. ii. 5. Spred thy close Curtaine *Loue-performing night.

344 1742.  Pope, Dunc., IV. 306. *Love-whisp’ring woods, and lute-resounding waves.

345   c.  adverbial (chiefly instrumental) and parasynthetic, as love-born, -crossed, -deep, -dittied, -enthralled, -fond, -illumined, -inspired, -instructed, -labored, -laden, -learned, -mad, -open, -pensive, -quick, † -shaked, -smitten, -spent, -stricken, -touched, wounded adjs.

346 1725.  Pope, Odyss., X. 398. *Love-born confidence.

347 1834.  Lytton, Pompeii, III. ii. Thy Master was *love-crossed.

348 1885–94.  R. Bridges, Eros & Psyche, Oct. iv. Many an old love-crost And doleful ditty would she gently sing.

349 1832.  Tennyson, Eleänore, 76. The languors of thy *love-deep eyes.

350 1725.  Pope, Odyss., I. 532. *Love-dittied airs, and dance, conclude the day.

351 1665.  Brathwait, Comment Two Tales, 23. We are now to … descend to our *love-enthralled Absolon.

352 1823.  Roscoe, Sismondi’s Lit. Eur. (1840), II. xxxvi. 458. The melancholy soul of a *love-fond poet.

353 1781.  E. Darwin, Bot. Gard., I. (1791), 19. Guard from cold dews her *love-illumin’d form.

354 1768.  Wolcot (P. Pindar), Elegy Fleas Teneriffe, ix. The *love-inspir’d Fandango warms no more.

355 a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, I. (1598), 90. Then did he slacke his *loue-enstructed pace.

356 1667.  Milton, P. L., V. 41. The night-warbling Bird, that now awake Tunes sweetest his *love-labor’d song.

357 1820.  Shelley, Skylark, ix. Soothing her *love-laden Soul in secret hour With music sweet as love.

358 1595.  Spenser, Epithal., 88. The birds *love-learned song.

359 1839.  Hallam, Hist. Lit., IV. IV. vi. § 5. 259. *Love-mad and yet talking in gallant conceits.

360 a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, I. (1598), 91. His *loue-open eye … that eu’n did marke her troden grasse.

361 1717.  Fenton, Poems, 101. Wand’ring *Love-pensive near his Amber Stream.

362 1810.  Splendid Follies, III. 121. The widow … placed herself opposite this *love-proof hero.

363 1595.  Daniel, Civ. Wars, II. lxxv. [She] her *love-quicke eyes, which ready be, Fastens on one.

364 1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., III. ii. 385. I am he that is so *Loue-shak’d, I pray you tel me your remedie.

365 1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, lvii. This *love-smitten and middle-aged gentleman.

366 1648.  Herrick, Hesper., To Willow-tree (1869), 112. The *love-spent youth, and love-sick maid.

367 1805.  Surr, Winter in Lond. (1806), II. x. 247. Bless me, the youth is *love-stricken!

368 1872.  A. de Vere, Leg. St. Patrick, Arraignm. St. P., 7. Like birds that cannot stay their songs *Love-touched in Spring.

369 1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., I. ii. 113. *Loue wounded Protheus.

370   16.  Special combs.: love-affair, in early use pl. the experiences connected with being in love; now sing. (in somewhat disparaging use) an amatory episode in a person’s life, an amour; † love amour, sexual love as distinguished from friendship; † love-badge, ? a badge indicating profession of amorous allegiance; love-begotten a., illegitimate; † love-bend, the ‘fetters’ of love; love-blink Sc., a look of love; † love-book, (a) the book of ‘the Song of Solomon’; (b) a book treating of love (nonce-use); † love-boy, a catamite; † love-brat = LOVE-CHILD; † love-broker, one who acts as an agent between lovers; so love-broking; love-call, a call or note used as a means of amorous communication between the sexes; † love-cause = love-affair; love-cup, † (a) a philtre; (b) a loving-cup; love-dart, an organ found in certain snails (see quot.), the spiculum amoris; † love-deed, an action proceeding from love; † love-dose, † -draught, a philtre; † love-dread, the fear that proceeds from love, ‘filial’ fear; † love-drunk, intoxication with love; † love-eie (= awe) = love-dread; love-favo(u)r (see FAVOUR sb. 7); † love-feat, an act of courtship; † lovehood (see sense 13); † love-juice, a juice which dropped upon the eyes has the effect of a philtre; † love-lace, the snare of love; † love-lad, a lover; † love-lake = love-sport; † love-lass, a sweetheart; † love-late, amorous looks or demeanor; † love-libel, a love-letter or message; † love-liking, sexual affection; † love-line nonce-wd., a love-letter; love-match, a marriage of which the motive is love, not worldly advantage or convenience; love-money, coins broken in two and divided between lovers or friends as a token of remembrance; † love-nettled a., deeply in love; † love-paper nonce-wd., a love-letter; love-passage, an incident of amatory experience; love-pat, a smart tap given out of love (cf. love-tick); love-pennant, ? a pennant with which a departing ship is decorated; love-philtre, often redundantly = PHILTRE; love-potion, a philtre = LOVE-DRINK; † love-powder, (a) a powder administered as a philtre; (b) nonce-use, the explosive stuff of love; love-ribbon, a narrow gauze ribbon with satin stripes (cf. sense 13); † love-ron, -rune, a tale or song of love; love-scene, a scene, esp. in a story or play, consisting of an interview between lovers; love-seal, a seal with a device appropriate to amatory correspondence; † love-soken (see quot.); love-sport, amorous play or dalliance; love-story, a story in which the main theme is the affection existing between lovers; love-tale = prec.; love-tap, a tap or gentle blow to indicate love; † love-thing, ? a pledge of love; † love-tick = love-tap; † love-tiding, a message of love; love-tight a., so as to be proof against love; † love-tooth, an inclination for love; † love-wine, wine served out to a company in a loving-cup.

371 1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 254. I’le … confer at large Of all that may concerne thy *Loue-affaires.

372 1867.  Trollope, Chron. Barset, I. xxv. 217. I think you are aware that you have got a love-affair on hand.

373 c. 1350.  Ipomadon (Kölbing), 127. Nowghte she covthe of *love amowre.

374 1656.  Sir J. Mennis & J. Smith, Musarum Deliciæ, 35. Another ask’t me … Whether I wore a *Love-bagge on my shoulder?

375 1771.  Smollett, Humph. Cl., 24 May. That he had been a *love-begotten babe, brought up in the workhouse.

376 1784.  Registers of River, Kent (MS.). Mary, daughter of Ann Allen—Love begotten, [baptized].

377 c. 1250.  Hymn to Virgin, 35, in Trin. Coll. Hom., App. 256. Ic êm in þine *loue bende.

378 13[?].  Guy Warw. (A.), 324. Leuer him wer walk & wende, & dye in trewe loue bende.

379 1508.  Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 228. I cast on him a crabbit E … And lettis it is a *luf-blenk.

380 1636.  Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. 155. My Bridegroom’s love-blinks fatten my weary soul.

381 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 102. Ase mi leofmon þet seið to me, iðe *luue boc, ‘osculetur me osculo oris sui.’

382 1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., I. i. 19. For I will be thy beadesman, Valentine. Val. And on a loue-booke pray for my successe?

383 a. 1656.  Ussher, Ann., VI. (1658), 131. Pausanias, being discovered by Argilius, his *love-boy.

384 ? 16[?].  Old Chap-bk. (N.). Four *love brats will be laid to thee.

385 1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., III. ii. 39. There is no *loue-Broker in the world, can more preuaile in mans commendation with woman, then report of valour.

386 1808.  E. S. Barrett, Miss-led General, 166–7. What money Mr. Greentimber disbursed on account of the great man’s *love-broking affairs, he contrived to replace by commission-broking.

387 1824.  Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. 198. In less than two minutes Harriet heard the *love-call sounded at Sally’s gate.

388 1887.  Athenæum, 31 Dec., 901/3. He [Mr. Rowbotham] disagrees with Darwin in finding the origin of all instrumental music in the love-call.

389 1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., IV. i. 97. In all this time there was not anie man died in his owne person (videlicet) in a *loue cause.

390 1561.  Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apoc. (1573), 128. Poysoning *louecuppes, and inchauntments, were in the tyme of S. John most frequented throughout the Romayne Empyre.

391 1849.  Rock, Ch. of Fathers, IV. xi. 86. The love-cup was sent about.

392 1877.  F. P. Pascoe, Zool. Classif., 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.’

393 13[?].  Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., liv. 62. And þis I made for Monkynde, Mi *loue-dedes to haue in mynde.

394 1709.  J. Johnson, Clergym. Vade M., II. 69. Pharmacy probably signifies here … the compounding of philtrums or *love-doses.

395 1647.  R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 85. Their *love-draughts, charmes, and druggs.

396 c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 316. *Love-drede is in men wiþouten siche servile drede.

397 c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well, xxxviii. 243. For þe loue-dreed þat sche hadde to god.

398 1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 11. *Lovedrunke is the meschief Above alle othre the most chief.

399 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 428. Liðe wordes … þerof kumeð þinge best—þet is *luue-eie.

400 1597.  Bp. Hall, Sat., I. ii. B 3 b. Deck’t with *love-fauors.

401 1588.  Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 123. And euery one his *Loue-feat will aduance Vnto his seuerall Mistresse. Ibid. (1590), Mids. N., III. ii. 89. Thou hast mistaken quite And laid the *loue iuyce on some true loues sight.

402 c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl., 2251 (Kölbing). He was nomen wiþ *loue las.

403 1586.  W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 84. The Cornation that among the *loue laddes wontes to be worne much.

404 c. 1320.  Sir Tristr., 2020. Her loue laike þou bi hald For þe loue of me.

405 1610.  Niccols, Eng. Eliza, Induct. Mirr. Mag., 776. So soone as Tython’s *love-lasse gan display Her opall colours in her Easterne throne.

406 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 90. His eie euer bihalt te ȝif þu makest … eni *luue lates touward unðeauwes.

407 1602.  Dekker, Satiromastix, Wks. 1873, I. 215. Sir Vau. … I desire you to … read this Paper. Miniver. Ile receive no *Love libels perdy, but by word a mouth.

408 c. 1386.  Chaucer, Sir Thopas, 2040. Of romances that been royales, Of popes and of cardinales, And eek of *love-lykinge.

409 1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, II. i. 81. To giue great Charlemaine a pen in’s hand And write to her a *loue-line.

410 1749.  Fielding, Tom Jones, XIII. viii. This was a *love-match, as they call it, on both sides; this is, a match between two beggars.

411 1869.  Trollope, He knew, etc., xxv. (1878), 138. It was little enough she got by marrying him…. But it was a love-match.

412 1856.  W. H. Smyth, Rom. Fam. Coins, 281. The custom of breaking *love-money, as a pledge of fidelity.

413 1586.  D. Rowland, Lazarillo, II. (1672), X viii. I was so *love-nettled, that if they had asked me the Phenix … I would have given it them.

414 c. 1613.  Middleton, No Wit like a Woman’s, I. ii. Peruse this *love-paper as you go. [Giving letter.]

415 1865.  Tylor, Early Hist. Man., iii. 43. *Love-passages of the gods and heroes.

416 1876.  C. D. Warner, Wint. Nile, i. 24. Garibaldi received one of his wounds, a sort of *love-pat of fame.

417 1889.  Conan Doyle, Micah Clarke, 377. You are like the same ship when the battle and the storm have … torn the *love-pennants from her peak.

418 1834.  Lytton, Pompeii, ii. 20. The very air seems to have taken a *love-philtre, so handsome does every face without a beard seem in my eyes.

419 1647.  R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 85, margin. Philters or *love-potions.

420 1623.  Webster, Duchess of Malfi, V. ii. Confesse to me Which of my women ’twas you hyr’d to put *Loue-powder into my drinke?

421 1678.  Butler, Hud., III. i. 661. When he’s with Love-powder laden, And Prim’d, and Cock’d by Miss, or Madam.

422 1742.  J. Yarrow, Love at First Sight, 14. There are Things call’d Charms, Bribes, and Love-Powder.

423 c. 1805.  Mrs. Sherwood, in Life, xix. (1847), 329. I made her and Annie new caps, which I trimmed with rosettes of black *love-ribbon.

424 1882.  Caulfeild & Saward, Dict. Needlework, Love-ribbon,… was employed to tie on Crape Hat-bands when worn at funerals, and is now occasionally worn by ladies in their caps.

425 a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 109. Nalde ha … nane *luue runes leornin ne lustnen.

426 c. 1275.  A Luue Ron, 2, in O. E. Misc., 93. A Mayde cristes me bit yorne þat ich hire wurche a luue ron.

427 1850.  Hannay, Singleton Fontenoy, I. iii. I. 35. Circe resumed a *love-scene between Adèle and the tender forçat.

428 1877.  W. Jones, Finger-ring, 21. The impress being two human heads … the prototype of the numerous *‘love seals’ of a later period.

429 1523.  Fitzherb., Surv., 9 b. But and he [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.

430 1605.  Chapman, All Fools, I. i. Where I am cloyde, And being bound to *loue sports, care not for them.

431 1623.  Massinger, Bondman, I. iii. They cannot … Vsher vs to our Litters, tell *loue Stories.

432 1890.  Barrie, My Lady Nicotine, xxiii. (1901), 70/1. The tragedy … is led up to by a pathetic love-story.

433 1633.  Shirley, Bird in Cage, V. I 2 b. Forgetting all their legends, and *Loue tales Of Venus, Cupid, and the scapes of Joue.

434 1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 452. The Love-tale Infected Sions daughters with like heat.

435 1802.  Ritson, Anc. Engl. Metr. Rom., I. p. vii. The love-tales of Longus, Heliodorus, and Xenophon of Ephesus.

436 1889.  ‘Mark Twain,’ Yankee at Crt. K. Arthur, xxxiii. 383. When I make up my mind to hit a man, I don’t plan out a *love-tap.

437 c. 1205.  Lay., 169. For he heo heuede swiþe ilofed, & *luf-þing hire biheite.

438 1493.  Dives & Paup., X. viii. I iij b. Yt mischeif is noo curse but a *louetyk of god.

439 1627.  Bp. Hall, Passion Serm., Wks. 429. These were but loue-ticks to what His soule endured.

440 1635.  Quarles, Embl., III. vi. 146. Her frownes … may chance to show An angry love-trick [read -tick] on his arme, or so.

441 a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1035. Ich mai do þar gode note, And bringe hom *lovetiþinge, Vor ich of chirche songe singe.

442 1875.  McLaren, Serm., Ser. II. iv. 71. I can shut it out, sealing my heart *love-tight against it.

443 1580.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 350. I am nowe olde, yet haue I in my head a *loue tooth.

444 1641.  Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 117. They perhapps have *love wine ready to give to the company when they light.

445   b.  In names of plants and animals: love-and-idle(s, dial. var. of love-in-idleness (E.D.D.); love-bind, the plant Traveller’s Joy (Halliwell); love-entangle, -entangled = love-in-a-mist (a); love-grass, a grass of the genus Eragrostis; love-in-a-mist, (a) the Fennel-flower, Nigella damascena; (b) a West Indian species, Passiflora fœtida (cf. G. liebe im nebel); love-in-a-puzzle, Nigella damascena; love-in-idleness (also † love-in-idle), the Heartsease, Viola tricolor; love-parrakeet, -parrot = LOVE-BIRD; love-shell (see quot.); love-tree, the Judas-tree, Cercis Siliquastrum (Treas. Bot., 1866); also tree of love; love-vine, ‘any species of Cuscuta, dodder’ (Webster, Suppl.).

446 1630.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Wks., II. 134/2. Amongst all Pot-herbes growing on the ground, Time is the least respected, I haue found … When passions are let loose without a bridle, Then precious Time is turnd to *Loue and Idle.

447 1847.  Halliwell, *Love-entangle, the nigella. Cornw.

448 1841.  S. C. Hall, Ireland, I. 128. Sometimes they are overgrown by weed called *‘love-entangled,’ and the golden stone-crop.

449 1702.  Petiver, in Phil. Trans., XXIII. 1257. What is peculiar in this *Love-grass is its having just under each spike, its stalk clammy.

450 1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 318. *Love in a Mist, Passiflora.

451 1834.  Mary Howitt, in Tait’s Mag., I. 445/2. I’d a noble root of love-in-a-mist.

452 1824.  H. Phillips, Flora Hist., II. 151. *Love in a puzzle, Love in a mist,… Nigella Damascena.

453 1664.  S. Blake, Compl. Gardeners Pract., 50. *Lowe in idle, or two faces under a hood, is a Flower that is much like Violets.

454 1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, II. ii. 149. This floure is called … in English, Pances, *Loue in idlenes, and Hartes ease.

455 1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 168. The bolt of Cupid … fell vpon a little westerne flower; Before, milke-white; now purple with loues wound, And maidens call it, Loue in idlenesse.

456 1864.  T. L. Phipson, Utilization Minute Life, vii. 155. Other species of Cypræa known … by the English as *‘Love-shells,’ are used as ornaments, etc.

457 [*Love-tree: cf. 1760.  J. Lee, Introd. Bot., App. 317. Tree of Love, Cercis.]

458 1885.  Lady Brassey, The Trades, 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.

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