romance

(rō-mănsˈ, rōˈmănsˌ)

1. a. A love affair.
   b. Ardent emotional attachment or involvement between people; love: They kept the romance alive in their marriage for 35 years.
   c. A strong, sometimes short-lived attachment, fascination, or enthusiasm for something: a childhood romance with the sea.
2. A mysterious or fascinating quality or appeal, as of something adventurous, heroic, or strangely beautiful: “These fine old guns often have a romance clinging to them” (Richard Jeffries).
3. a. A long medieval narrative in prose or verse that tells of the adventures and heroic exploits of chivalric heroes: an Arthurian romance.
   b. A long fictitious tale of heroes and extraordinary or mysterious events, usually set in a distant time or place.
   c. The class of literature constituted by such tales.
4. a. An artistic work, such as a novel, story, or film, that deals with sexual love, especially in an idealized form.
   b. The class or style of such works.
5. A fictitiously embellished account or explanation: We have been given speculation and romance instead of the facts.
6. Music A lyrical, tender, usually sentimental song or short instrumental piece.
7. Romance The Romance languages.

1. To invent, write, or tell romances.
2. To think or behave in a romantic manner.

1. To make love to; court or woo.
2. To have a love affair with.

Related Forms:

• ro·mancˈer noun