love

The definition of love is a feeling of deep affection, passion or strong liking for a person or thing.

Origin of the Word "Love"

Comes from the Middle English word luf, derived from the Old English word "lufu." This is akin to Old High German, "luba," and another Old English word, lēof, which means ‘dear’.

Another word related to love, "lubere" or "libere," comes to us from the Romans. This Latin word means 'to please'.

In all words related to the word love, roots relating to dear, pleasing, and cherished may be found, hinting at the deeper transcendent meaning of the modern word.

Agape - Means love in modern day Greek, but in ancient times referred to a pure love without sexual connotations
Eros - Includes passionate love full of desire and longing
Philia - Mentioned by Aristotle, meant a dispassionate, virtuous and unselfish love
Xenia - Includes hospitality, and refers to a type of love most would consider charity or giving.

(noun)

An example of love is what a mother feels when looking at her sleeping baby.
An example of love is what a husband feels when his wife winks at him from across the room.
An example of love is what friends feel when sharing a beautiful moment together.
An example of love is among family members; familial love, or love based on kinship ties.
An example of love is love of neighbor, based on the Christian teaching of expressing concern and charity for all people.
An example of love is love of country, or patriotism.
An example of love is love of God, or expressive love for a deity or deities.

Love is defined as to show or have deep attraction, affection or emotional attachment to a person, people or thing.

(verb)

See love in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a deep and tender feeling of affection for or attachment or devotion to a person or persons
an expression of one's love or affection: give Mary my love
a feeling of brotherhood and good will toward other people
1. strong liking for or interest in something: a love of music
2. the object of such liking
1. a strong, usually passionate, affection of one person for another, based in part on sexual attraction
2. the person who is the object of such an affection; sweetheart; lover
1. sexual passion
2. sexual intercourse
Origin: < phr. play for love, i.e., play for nothing
Tennis a score of zero
Theol.
1. God's tender regard and concern for all human beings
2. devotion to and desire for God as the supreme good, that all human beings have
Myth.
1. Cupid, or Eros, as the god of love
2. Rare Venus

Origin: ME < OE lufu, akin to OHG luba, Goth lubo < IE base *leubh-, to be fond of, desire > libido, lief, lust

transitive verb loved, loving

intransitive verb

to feel the emotion of love; be in love

See love in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.
A feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair; the emotion of sex and romance.
a. Sexual passion.
b. Sexual intercourse.
c. A love affair.
An intense emotional attachment, as for a pet or treasured object.
A person who is the object of deep or intense affection or attraction; beloved. Often used as a term of endearment.
An expression of one's affection: Send him my love.
a. A strong predilection or enthusiasm: a love of language.
b. The object of such an enthusiasm: The outdoors is her greatest love.
Love Mythology Eros or Cupid.
often Love Christianity Charity.
Sports A zero score in tennis.

verb loved loved, lov·ing, loves

verb, transitive

To have a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward (a person): We love our parents. I love my friends.
To have a feeling of intense desire and attraction toward (a person).
To have an intense emotional attachment to: loves his house.
a. To embrace or caress.
b. To have sexual intercourse with.
To like or desire enthusiastically: loves swimming.
Theology To have charity for.
To thrive on; need: The cactus loves hot, dry air.