Love letter

Love Love (l[u^]v), n. [OE. love, luve, AS. lufe, lufu; akin to E. lief, believe, L. lubet, libet, it pleases, Skr. lubh to be lustful. See {Lief}.] 1. A feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration; pre["e]minent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness; as, the love of brothers and sisters. [1913 Webster]

Of all the dearest bonds we prove Thou countest sons' and mothers' love Most sacred, most Thine own. --Keble. [1913 Webster]

2. Especially, devoted attachment to, or tender or passionate affection for, one of the opposite sex. [1913 Webster]

He on his side Leaning half-raised, with looks of cordial love Hung over her enamored. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Courtship; -- chiefly in the phrase to make love, i. e., to court, to woo, to solicit union in marriage. [1913 Webster]

Demetrius . . . Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, And won her soul. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. Affection; kind feeling; friendship; strong liking or desire; fondness; good will; -- opposed to {hate}; often with of and an object. [1913 Webster]

Love, and health to all. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Smit with the love of sacred song. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

The love of science faintly warmed his breast. --Fenton. [1913 Webster]

5. Due gratitude and reverence to God. [1913 Webster]

Keep yourselves in the love of God. --Jude 21. [1913 Webster]

6. The object of affection; -- often employed in endearing address; as, he held his love in his arms; his greatest love was reading. ``Trust me, love.'' --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Open the temple gates unto my love. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

7. Cupid, the god of love; sometimes, Venus. [1913 Webster]

Such was his form as painters, when they show Their utmost art, on naked Lores bestow. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Therefore do nimble-pinioned doves draw Love. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

8. A thin silk stuff. [Obs.] --Boyle. [1913 Webster]

9. (Bot.) A climbing species of C{lematis} ({Clematis Vitalba}). [1913 Webster]

10. Nothing; no points scored on one side; -- used in counting score at tennis, etc. [1913 Webster]

He won the match by three sets to love. --The Field. [1913 Webster]

11. Sexual intercourse; -- a euphemism. [PJC]

Note: Love is often used in the formation of compounds, in most of which the meaning is very obvious; as, love-cracked, love-darting, love-killing, love-linked, love-taught, etc. [1913 Webster]

{A labor of love}, a labor undertaken on account of regard for some person, or through pleasure in the work itself, without expectation of reward.

{Free love}, the doctrine or practice of consorting with one of the opposite sex, at pleasure, without marriage. See {Free love}.

{Free lover}, one who avows or practices free love.

{In love}, in the act of loving; -- said esp. of the love of the sexes; as, to be in love; to fall in love.

{Love apple} (Bot.), the tomato.

{Love bird} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of small, short-tailed parrots, or parrakeets, of the genus {Agapornis}, and allied genera. They are mostly from Africa. Some species are often kept as cage birds, and are celebrated for the affection which they show for their mates.

{Love broker}, a person who for pay acts as agent between lovers, or as a go-between in a sexual intrigue. --Shak.

{Love charm}, a charm for exciting love. --Ld. Lytton.

{Love child}. an illegitimate child. --Jane Austen.

{Love day}, a day formerly appointed for an amicable adjustment of differences. [Obs.] --Piers Plowman. --Chaucer.

{Love drink}, a love potion; a philter. --Chaucer.

{Love favor}, something given to be worn in token of love.

{Love feast}, a religious festival, held quarterly by some religious denominations, as the Moravians and Methodists, in imitation of the agap[ae] of the early Christians.

{Love feat}, the gallant act of a lover. --Shak.

{Love game}, a game, as in tennis, in which the vanquished person or party does not score a point.

{Love grass}. [G. liebesgras.] (Bot.) Any grass of the genus {Eragrostis}.

{Love-in-a-mist}. (Bot.) (a) An herb of the Buttercup family ({Nigella Damascena}) having the flowers hidden in a maze of finely cut bracts. (b) The West Indian {Passiflora f[oe]tida}, which has similar bracts.

{Love-in-idleness} (Bot.), a kind of violet; the small pansy. [1913 Webster]

A little western flower, Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound; And maidens call it love-in-idleness. --Shak.

{Love juice}, juice of a plant supposed to produce love. --Shak.

{Love knot}, a knot or bow, as of ribbon; -- so called from being used as a token of love, or as a pledge of mutual affection. --Milman.

{Love lass}, a sweetheart.

{Love letter}, a letter of courtship. --Shak.

{Love-lies-bleeding} (Bot.), a species of amaranth ({Amarantus melancholicus}).

{Love match}, a marriage brought about by love alone.

{Love potion}, a compounded draught intended to excite love, or venereal desire.

{Love rites}, sexual intercourse. --Pope

{Love scene}, an exhibition of love, as between lovers on the stage.

{Love suit}, courtship. --Shak.

{Of all loves}, for the sake of all love; by all means. [Obs.] ``Mrs. Arden desired him of all loves to come back again.'' --Holinshed.

{The god of love}, or {The Love god}, Cupid.

{To make love}, to engage in sexual intercourse; -- a euphemism.

{To make love to}, to express affection for; to woo. ``If you will marry, make your loves to me.'' --Shak.

{To play for love}, to play a game, as at cards, without stakes. ``A game at piquet for love.'' --Lamb. [1913 Webster +PJC]

Syn: Affection; friendship; kindness; tenderness; fondness; delight. [1913 Webster]