[ad. L. Jov-em acc. (other oblique cases Jovis, Jovi, Jove) of OL. Jovis, for which in the classical period the compound Juppiter, Jūpiter (= Jovis-pater) was substituted; in It. Giove.]
1. A poetical equivalent of Jupiter, name of the highest deity of the ancient Romans: = JUPITER 1. b. Colloquially used in the asseveration By Jove: cf. L. pro Juppiter, pro Jovem.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 673 (722). Ioue ek for þe loue of faire Europe, The whiche in forme of bole a-way þow fette.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. iv. 100. Therefore in fierce Tempest is he comming, In Thunder and in Earth-quake, like a Ioue.
1672. Wilkins, Nat. Relig., 51. Believing but one supreme Deity, the Father of all other subordinate powers:… whom they called Jupiter or Jove, with plain reference to the Hebrew name Jehovah.
1738. Pope, Universal Prayer, i. In ev’ry clime adored By saint, by savage, and by sage, Jehovah, Jove, or Lord!
1886. Sir T. Martin, trans. Faust, 120. I even upheaved the glorious seat of Jove.
b. 1575. R. B., Appius & Virginia, in Hazl., Dodsley, IV. 124. By Jove, master merchant … Would get but small argent, if I did not stand His very good master.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. ii. 495. By Ioue, I alwaies tooke three threes for nine.
1698. Farquhar, Love & Bottle, III. i. Luc. Did you ever see me before? Roeb. Never, by Jove.
1818. Miss Ferrier, Marriage, ix. ‘Venus and the Graces, by Jove,’ exclaimed Sir Sampson.
1885. Miss Braddon, Wyllard’s Weird, I. i. 24. By Jove! here comes the Coroner.
c. In names of plants, as Jove’s beard = JUPITER’S BEARD (Treas. Bot., 1866); Jove’s fruit, a variety of wild Allspice or Feverbush (Lindera melissæfolia), growing in the southern United States (ibid.); Jove’s nut (dial.), the acorn (Halliw., 1847–78).
2. The planet Jupiter (poetic). Hence (like Jupiter) b. Her. = Azure; c. Alch. Tin.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Troylus, III. 576 (625). Saturne and Ioue in Cancro Ioyned were.
1562. Leigh, Armorie (1597), 129. The Torse is by nature wreathed with pure colours of wise Ioue and Pale Luna, Manteled of the first.
1599. T. M[oufet], Silkwormes, 45. When Ioue they turne to Sol or Luna fine.
1732. Pope, Ess. Man, I. 42. Ask … Why Jove’s satellites are less than Jove.
1784. Cowper, Tiroc., 634. The moons of Jove, and Saturn’s belted ball.
3. Comb., as Jove begotten, -born, -like, etc., adjs.
1613. Heywood, Silv. Age, III. i. Wks. 1874, III. 123. Yet in her wombe the Ioue-bred Issue striues.
1634. Milton, Comus, 676. Not that Nepenthes, which the wife of Thone In Egypt gave to Jove-born Helena.
1725. Pope, Odyss., XXIV. 581. The Jove-descended Maid.
1774. Epist. to Sir W. Chambers, Her. Postscr. 84. So when o’er Crane Court’s philosophic gods The Jove-like majesty of Pringle nods.
1848. Buckley, Homer’s Iliad, 115. There Jove-beloved Hector entered.
