Meaning and Origin
What does the name Love mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Love
User Submitted Origins
English
65%
African
15%
Turkish
5%
Swedish
5%
Islamic/Muslim
5%
Nepali
5%
User Submitted Meanings
- 2 people from South Africa and the United States agree the name Love is of African origin and means "Charity".
- A submission from Sri Lanka says the name Love means "Sweet and kind".
- A user from North Carolina, U.S. says the name Love means "Love cute sweet nice".
- A submission from Massachusetts, U.S. says the name Love means "Adore".
- A user from Finland says the name Love means "Feeling same thinking".
- According to a user from New Jersey, U.S., the name Love is of Turkish origin and means "Labor".
- A user from Sweden says the name Love is of Swedish origin and means "A very talented person who many people in his/her nearby likes. Very trustworthy and athletic too".
- A user from India says the name Love means "Favour of heart".
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun Love
Senses
- A feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration; preëminent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness; as, the love of brothers and sisters."Of all the dearest bonds we prove Thou countest sons' and mothers' love Most sacred, most Thine own." [Keble.]
- Especially, devoted attachment to, or tender or passionate affection for, one of the opposite sex."He on his side Leaning half-raised, with looks of cordial love Hung over her enamored." [Milton.]
- Courtship; -- chiefly in the phrase to make love, i. e., to court, to woo, to solicit union in marriage."Demetrius . . . Made love to Nedar's daughter, Helena, And won her soul." [Shak.]
- Affection; kind feeling; friendship; strong liking or desire; fondness; good will; -- opposed to hate; often with of and an object." Love, and health to all." [Shak.]"Smit with the love of sacred song." [Milton.]"The love of science faintly warmed his breast." [Fenton.]
- Due gratitude and reverence to God."Keep yourselves in the love of God." [Jude 21.]
- 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.]"Open the temple gates unto my love." [Spenser.]
- Cupid, the god of love; sometimes, Venus."Such was his form as painters, when they show Their utmost art, on naked Lores bestow." [Dryden.]"Therefore do nimble-pinioned doves draw Love." [Shak.]
- A thin silk stuff.(Obs)
- [Bot] A climbing species of Clematis Clematis Vitalba).
- Nothing; no points scored on one side; -- used in counting score at tennis, etc."He won the match by three sets to love." [The Field.]
- Sexual intercourse; -- a euphemism.synonyms: Affection; friendship; kindness; tenderness; fondness; delight.
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.
Etymology: OE. love luve, AS. lufe lufu; akin to E. lief believe, L. lubet libet, it pleases, Skr. lubh to be lustful. See Lief
verb Love
Senses
- To have a feeling of love for; to regard with affection or good will; as, to love one's children and friends; to love one's country; to love one's God. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." [Matt. xxii. 37.]"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self." [Matt. xxii. 39.]
- To regard with passionate and devoted affection, as that of one sex for the other.
- To take delight or pleasure in; to have a strong liking or desire for, or interest in; to be pleased with; to like; as, to love books; to love adventures. "Wit, eloquence, and poetry. Arts which I loved." [Cowley.]
Etymology: AS. lufian. √124. See Love (n.)
verb Love
To have the feeling of love; to be in love.
Other Dictionary Sources
- Sexual activities (often including sexual intercourse) between two people ("his lovemaking disgusted her", "he hadn't had any love in months", and "he has a very complicated love life")
- Any object of warm affection or devotion ("the theater was her first love")
- A deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction ("their love left them indifferent to their surroundings" and "she was his first love")
- A strong positive emotion of regard and affection ("his love for his work" and "children need a lot of love")
- A beloved person; used as terms of endearment
- A score of zero in tennis or squash ("it was 40 love")
- Have sexual intercourse with
- Have a great affection or liking for ("I love French food" and "She loves her boss and works hard for him")
- Be enamored or in love with ("She loves her husband deeply")
- Get pleasure from ("I love cooking")
Wiktionary
- A surname.
- A male given name
- A female given name
- Cupid, Eros or another personification of love.
- An unincorporated community in Kentucky.
Love was also found in the following language(s): Cebuano, Swedish, and Tagalog