In 4–6 Cupide, -yde; also Cupido, -ydo. [ad. L. Cupīdo, personification of cupīdo desire, love (see 2 below), f. cupĕre to desire. Cf. OF. Cupido (mod.F. Cupidon). F. has had cupide adj. = L. cupidus from 15th c.]
1. In Roman Mythology, the god of love, son of Mercury and Venus, identified with the Greek Eros. Also in pl. (after L. Cupīdines, Gr. Ἒρωτες). Hence, a representation of the god; a beautiful young boy.
To look for Cupids in the eyes: cf. BABY 3.
c. 1381. Chaucer, Parl. Foules, 652. I wol noght serve Venus ne Cupyde [rhyme betyde]. Ibid. (c. 1384), H. Fame, I. 137. Hir dowves and dan Cupido, Hir blinde sone.
1548. Hall, Chron., 194 b. Heated with the darte of Cupido.
1592. R. D., Hypnerotomachia, 97. The violent force of Cupids artillerie.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., II. iv. 89. Her Andirons … were two winking Cupids Of Siluer.
1612. Drayton, Poly-olb., II. (1753), 862 (N.). The Naiads … braid his verdant locks, While in their crystal eyes he doth for Cupids look.
1710. Pope, Windsor For., 297. In the same shades the Cupids tun’d his lyre.
1713. Guardian, No. 103. Venus stood by him … with numberless cupids on all sides of her.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, v. Is he not a Cupid, Sir?
† 2. Love, desire. [L. cupīdo.] Obs. rare–1.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., I. 624. The cok confesseth emynent cupide When he his gemmy tail begynneth splay.
3. Comb. † Cupid-struck, smitten with love.
1653. W. Harvey, Anatom. Exerc., 17. I have seen an Ostrich-Hen … groveling on the ground, lift aside that vaile, and expose and stretch out her lappe; which the Cock perceiving, being instantly cupid-struck, proceeded to tread her.
