a. [f. LOVE sb. + SICK a.] Languishing for or with love.
1530. Palsgr., 317/2. Lovesycke enamowered, enamourée.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., V. iii. 82. When … he did discourse To loue-sicke Didoes sad attending eare. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., II. ii. 198. Purple the Sailes: and so purfumed that The Windes were Loue-sicke with them.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., IX. 54. Where Nightingales their Love-sick Ditty sing.
1739. A. Nicol, Nature without Art, 67. Cure me of this love-sick fever.
1894. Mrs. Oliphant, Hist. Sk. Q. Anne, i. 14. Her great general sighed like a lovesick boy whenever he was absent from her.
Hence Lovesickness, lovesick condition.
1707. Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch, 10. He, by mentioning the Name of Pylas to a sick Woman, found some alteration in her Pulse, by which he discover’d her Love-Sickness.
1874. Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. lxxxiv. 2. He had a holy lovesickness upon him.
