Obs. Forms: 4–6 amorette, 5–6 amourette, 6 amouret, 6–8 amoret, 9 AMOURETTE. [a. OFr. amorete, -ette, amourete, -ette, dim. of amour love:—L. amōr-em. The Eng. form amoret having become obs., the word has recently been re-adopted from Fr. in sense 5, as AMOURETTE.]
1. A sweetheart, an amorous girl; a paramour.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 4758. Eke as well by amorettes In mourning blacke, as bright burnettes.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, C iv. That thought more to complaire and plese their amourettes … than to plese God.
1590. T. Watson, Poems (1870), 171. Bestow no wealth on wanton amorets.
1739. J. Warton, Sappho’s Advice, in Gentl. Mag., Oct., 545/1 (R.).
| When Amorets no more can shine; | |
| And Stella owns she’s not divine. |
2. = AMORETTO.
1598. Florio, Amoretto, an amoret, a little loue, a wanton, a paramour.
3. A love-knot.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 892. Nought clad in silk was he, But alle in floures & in flourettes, Painted alle with amorettes.
a. 1423. James I., Kingis Q., II. xxvii. Spangis bright as gold, Forgit of schap like to the amorettis.
4. A love sonnet or song.
1590. Lodge, Euphues’ Gold. Leg., in Halliw., Shaks., VI. 37. Rather passe away the time heere in these woods with wryting amorets.
1594. T. Dickenson, Arisbas (1878), 71. Where sweete Amorets were chaunted.
5. pl. Looks that inspire love, love-glances; ‘love tricks, dalliances.’ Cotgr. (See AMOURETTE.)
c. 1590. Greene, Friar Bacon, ix. 177. How martial is the figure of his face Yet lovely and beset with amorets. Ibid., xii. 8. Should … Phœbus scape those piercing amorets That Daphne glanced at his deity? Ibid. (1590), Never too late (1600), 82. Shee alluring him with such wilie amorettes of a curtizan.
1651. Life of Sarpi (1676), 90. My amorets and wantonness.
