Forms: 1–2 lufian, 2–3 luvie(n, 3 lovin, Orm. lufenn, lufie, lofvie, 3–4 luven, loven, lovie, luvie, -ye, 4 Sc. lowe, luff, 4–5 lofe, luffe, 4–6 luve, luf(e, 5 loufe, lovyn, Sc. low, 6 loove, (lub(be), Sc. luif, lwf, luyf, lwiff, (lude = luf it), 8–9 Sc. lo’e, 3– love. Pa. t. 1 lufode, 2–3 luvede, 3 lufede, lovede, 4 lovied, lofde, louved, lufud, -ed, luv(e)d, lufd, lovyd, north. luffet, lofit, 4–5 lovet, lowyt, 4–6 Sc. lovit, luf(f)it, -yt, 5 luf(f)ed, lofed, -id, -yd, loffyd, 6 Sc. luifed, luif(f)et, lwffit, lowitt, lude, lwd, luid, 4– loved. Pa. pple. 1 ʓe-lufod, 2–3 iloved, y-, iluved, ileoved, 4–5 yloved, 4– (as in pa. t.). [OE. lufian, f. lufu LOVE sb.]
1. trans. With personal obj. or one capable of personification: To bear love to; to entertain a great affection or regard for; to hold dear.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, xvii. 1. Ic lufiu ðe dryhten meʓen min.
1154. O. E. Chron., an. 1137 (Laud MS.). Hi luueden God & gode men.
c. 1250. Gen. & Ex., 2042. An litel stund, quhile he was ðer, So gan him luuen ðe prisuner.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2328. Þis abram … Ful wel was luued wit god of heuen.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, I. 360. All men lufyt him for his bounte.
a. 1420. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 1260. God in holy writ seith … ‘Whom so I loue, hym wole I chastyse.’
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, X. 725. I sall, quhill I may leiff, Low yow fer mar than ony othir knycht.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 234 b. I love hym as my brother, and take hym as my frende.
a. 1600. Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, x. 45. Love nane bot vhare thou art lude.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., VI. § 406. He … loved his country with too unskilful a tenderness.
1653. Walton, Angler, vii. 153. Tie the frogs leg above the upper joint to the armed wire, and in so doing use him as though you loved him.
1769. Goldsm., Hist. Rome (1786), I. 432. Caesar … was loved almost to adoration by his army.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. ii. 128. A man who loved England well, but who loved Rome better.
1885. Ch. Times, 13 Nov., 883. Our nation is not much loved across the Atlantic.
b. spec. with reference to love between the sexes. To love paramours: see PARAMOUR.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gen. xxiv. 67. Isaac … underfeng hiʓ to wife and lufode hiʓ [etc.].
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 9549. In som þing The quene louede as me wende more him þan þe king.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, X. 554. I … lufit ane vench her in the toune.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, VII. xxxv. 269. I loue her aboue all ladyes lyuynge.
1567. Satir. Poems Reform., iv. 15. Lancit with luif she luid me by all wycht.
1604. Shaks., Oth., IV. i. 111. I neuer knew woman loue man so.
1667. Milton, P. L., IX. 832. So dear I love him, that with him all deaths I could endure.
1711. Ramsay, Elegy on Maggy Johnstoun, iii. To bonny lasses black or brown, As we loo’d best.
1794. Burns, Red, Red Rose, ii. And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a’ the seas gang dry.
1859. Tennyson, Elaine, 674–5. If I love not him, I know there is none other I can love.
† c. Occasional uses, with cogn. obj. with complement, etc. Obs.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, IX. viii. 364. The good loue that I haue loued you.
1672. Dryden, Marr. à la Mode, I. i. Wks. 1883, IV. 261. We loved, and we loved, as long as we could, ’Till our love was loved out in us both. Ibid. (1678), All for Love, II. Wks. 1883, V. 369. We have loved each other Into our mutual ruin.
2. a. Proverbs.
1546. J. Heywood, Prov. (1867), 76. Loue me, loue me dog.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron. (1809), 444. The olde Proverbe love me little and love me longe.
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 192. A man maie loue his house well, and yet not ride vpon the ridge.
a. 1633. G. Herbert, Jacula Prudentum, 141. Love your neighbour, yet pull not downe your hedge.
b. In certain vulgar ejaculations: (Lord) love you (or your heart), etc.
1833. T. Hook, Parson’s Dau. (1847), 231. Love your heart, sir, a path’s never straight.
1841. Lytton, Nt. & Morn., II. ix. II. 15. Quiet! Lord love you! never heard a noisier little urchin!
1843. Dickens, Christmas Carol, iii. 85. They said it was a shame to quarrel upon Christmas Day. And so it was! God love it, so it was.
1894. R. Bridges, Feast of Bacchus, II. 579. Lord love you, I’m not surprised at any one wanting to marry you.
c. To love one’s love with an A, with a B, etc.: a formula used in games of forfeits.
[1620. Swetnam Arraigned (Grosart), 24. A husband … so complete As if he had been pickt out of the Christ-Crosse row…. Ile begin with A … comparing his good parts as thus: for A. hee is Amiable, Bountefull, Courteous … now for Z he’s Zealous.]
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. Wks. 1776, II. 61. One would think that … you should have learnt when J. O. came into play, to love your love with an J, because he is judicious, though you hate your love with an J, because he is jealous: and then to love your love with an O, because he is oraculous, though you hate your love with an O, because he is obscure.
1678. Butler, Hud., III. i. 1006. For these you play at purposes, And love your love’s with A’s and B’s.
1865. Dickens, Mut. Fr., II. i. I’ll give you a clue to my trade, in a game of forfeits. I love my love with a B because she’s Beautiful; I hate my love with a B because she’s Brazen; I took her to the sign of the Blue Boar, and I treated her with Bonnets; her name’s Bouncer, and she lives in Bedlam.
3. absol. and intr. To entertain a strong affection; spec. to have a passionate attachment to a person of the opposite sex; to be in love.
c. 1250. Hymn Virgin, 45, in Trin. Coll. Hom., App. 256. Nis non maiden … þat swo derne louiȝe kunne.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 4510. Qua leli luues for-gettes lat.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 85. Harde is the heart that loueth nought In Mey.
a. 1550. Christis Kirke Gr., iv. He wald haif lufit, scho wald not lat him.
1604. Shaks., Oth., V. ii. 344. One that lou’d not wisely, but too well.
1650. Baxter, Saints’ R., III. x. § 6. No man else can tell me whether I Believe and Love, if I cannot tell my self.
1710. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to W. Montagu, 25 April. I can esteem, I can be a friend, but I do not know whether I can love.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., xxvii. ’Tis better to have loved and lost, Than never to have loved at all.
† b. in reciprocal sense; in ME. to love together (or samen). Obs.
c. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 1849. Þe body and þe saul with þe lyfe Lufes mare samen þan man and hys wyfe.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 373. It is spedful þat frendes love wel.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XVIII. i. 725. They loued to gyder more hotter than they did to fore hand.
1568. Grafton, Chron., I. 173. They loved after, as two brethren, during their naturall lyves.
1593. Shaks., 2 Hen. VI., IV. vii. 139. Let them kisse one another: For they lou’d well When they were aliue. Ibid. (1601), Jul. C., IV. iii. 131. Loue, and be Friends.
1790. Cowper, Lett. to Newton, 15 Oct. The day of separation between those who have loved long and well is an awful day.
1791. Burns, ‘Ae fond kiss,’ ii. Had we never lov’d sae kindly.
a. 1849. [see LOVE sb. 4].
c. To love with: to bear or make love to; to be in love with. Obs. or arch.
1665. Brathwait, Comment Two Tales, 96. That they may have Husbands Meek, to live with, Young, to love with, and Fresh, to lie with.
1883. R. W. Dixon, Mano, I. iii. 7. He was so gentle and so fair a knight, Who loved with Blanche.
4. trans. With a thing as obj.:
a. To be strongly attached to, to be unwilling to part with or allow to perish (life, honor, etc.).
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., John xii. 25. Seðe lufað sauel his spildeð hia.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 15. Þu aȝest luuan heore saule for cristes luue.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2368. Bot for ȝe lufed your lyf, þe lasse I yow blame.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 462. Lordes, if ye your estat and honour Louen, fleemyth this vicius errour!
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), VII. 25. The erle … preide her as sche luffed hir lyfe that [etc.].
1530. Palsgr., 735/1. No man styrre and he love his lyfe.
1649. Lovelace, Lucasta, Going to Wars, iii. I could not love thee (Deare) so much, Lov’d I not Honour more.
1661. Marvell, Corr., Wks. 1872–5, II. 71. As you loue your own affairs,… be pleased … to let me know your minds in these points.
b. To have a strong liking for; to be fond of; to be devoted or addicted to. In the U. S. a frequent vulgarism for like.
c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 99. It warð on eches muð wat mete se he mest luuede.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7698. Game of houndes he louede.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Cook’s T., 12. He loved bet the Taverne than the shoppe.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., 113. Þis man ys lycherous, deceyuant, and loufand lecherye.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), IV. 393. This Nero luffede gretely instrumentes musicalle.
1611. Bible, Prov. xx. 13. Loue not sleepe, lest thou come to pouertie.
1622. Fletcher, Beggars Bush, IV. v. I love a fat goose, as I love allegiance.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xx. § 4. When a Man declares … that he loves Grapes, it is no more, but that the taste of Grapes delights him.
1738. Swift, Pol. Conversat., 10. Colonel, Don’t you love Bread and Butter with your Tea?
1796. Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, iii. 19. Some love a pig brought whole to table.
1801. Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), III. 146. I respect the English nation highly, but I do not love their manners.
1817. Scott, Search after Happiness, xviii. She loved a book, and knew a thing or two.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., iv. I. 447. The new king, who loved the details of naval business.
1859. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., To Love, for to like. ‘Do you love pumpkin pie?’
c. To take pleasure in the existence of (a virtue, a practice, a state of things) in oneself, in others or in the world generally.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 431. Ȝef ha nalde leauen þet ha ȝet lefde, & hare lahe luuien.
c. 1250. Old Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 28. We mowe … luuie þo ilek [read ilke] þinkes þat he luued.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 20114. Ne luued scho notþer fight ne strijf.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 25. He … loved wel pees and quyet.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 123. Euer lowynge ryght and verite.
1567. Gude & Godlie Ball. (S.T.S.), 122. Thow luiffis treuth, gude Lord.
1653. Walton, Angler, xiii. 246. All that hate contentions, and love quietnesse, and vertue, and Angling.
1775. Burke, Corr. (1844), II. 26. I love firm government.
1902. Edin. Rev., July, 84. Universal humanity loves sharp practice.
5. Of plants or animals: To have a tendency to thrive in (a certain kind of situation). Cf. L. amare, diligere.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 462. The Pitch-tree loveth the mountains and cold grounds.
1706. London & Wise, Retir’d Gard’ner, I. xi. 157. Fig-trees … love loose, hot ground.
1760. Brown, Compl. Farmer, II. 85. All sorts of pease love limed or marled land.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), IV. 22. Rabbits are found to love a warm climate, and to be incapable of bearing the cold of the north.
1796. C. Marshall, Garden., xix. (1813), 331. Willow herb … loves moisture.
1866. B. Taylor, Proposal, Poems 257. The violet loves a sunny bank.
6. a. Const. inf. To have great pleasure in doing something. † Also rarely of things (= L. amare, Gr. φιλεῖν) to be accustomed (obs.).
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 162. Ȝe þat louen & lyken to listen a-ni more.
14[?]. Sir Beues (MS. M.), 82. He lovith not with me to rage.
1581. Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., III. (1586), 126. Those women that loue not to curle vp their haire roistinglie, but vse to kembe it downe smoothlie.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 462. The Larch tree … loveth to grow in the same places.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, V. iii. § 15. 436. Young men … loue to seeme wiser then their fathers.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 703. Salmons and Smelts loue to get into Riuers, though it be against the Streame.
1704. F. Fuller, Med. Gymn. (1711), 103. They don’t love to be told the Truth, tho’ it is ever so necessary.
1728–46. Thomson, Spring, 402. Down to the river, in whose ample wave Their little naiads love to sport at large.
1859. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., s.v., ‘I’d love to have that bonnet.’
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 246. I love to hear you wise men talk.
† b. with acc. and inf. or obj.-clause: To desire or like (something to be done). Obs.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 440. He louyde hem not to be worldly riche.
1682. T. Flatman, Heraclitus Ridens, No. 74 (1713), II. 205. Our Whigs don’t love Justice should be executed without ’em.
7. To embrace affectionately. (A childish use.)
1877. Habberton, Helen’s Babies, 31. ‘I was only a-lovin’ you, cos you was good, and brought us candy.’
1889. Harper’s Mag., July, 271/2. Putting his arms round her neck, [he] ‘loved’ her with his cheek against hers.
1893. Olive Schreiner, Story Afr. Farm, II. i. 132. Some pale-green, hairy-leaved bushes … meet over our head; and we sit among them, and kiss them, and they love us back.
8. Comb.: love-and-tear-it dial. [corruption of Lavatera], the tree mallow, Lavatera arborea; † love-man, cleavers, Galium Aparine; † love-pot a., drunken.
1598. Florio, Philantropo, the herbe goose-grasse or loue man. Ibid. (1611), Berghinellare, to gad abrode a gossoping as a pratling loue-pot woman.
1611. Cotgr., Riéble, Cleauer,… Loue-man, Goose-grasse.
1880. Adelaide Sartoris, Past Hours, II. 55. ‘Love-and-tear-it!’—the name … down in our part of the world for … the mallow.
