Definitions for: Romance


[n] an exciting and mysterious quality (as of a heroic time or adventure)
[n] a novel dealing with idealized events remote from everyday life
[n] a story dealing with love
[n] the group of languages derived from Latin
[n] a relationship between two lovers
[adj] relating to languages derived from Latin; "Romance languages"
[v] tell romantic or exaggerated lies; "This author romanced his trip to an exotic country"
[v] talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions; "The guys always try to chat up the new secretaries"; "My husband never flirts with other women"
[v] have a love affair with
[v] make amorous advances towards; "John is courting Mary"



Webster (1913) Definition: Ro*mance", n. [OE. romance, romant, romaunt, OF.
romanz, romans, romant, roman, F. roman, romance, fr. LL.
Romanice in the Roman language, in the vulgar tongue, i. e.,
in the vulgar language which sprang from Latin, the language
of the Romans, and hence applied to fictitious compositions
written in this vulgar tongue; fr. L. Romanicus Roman, fr.
Romanus. See Roman, and cf. Romanic, Romaunt,
Romansch, Romanza.]
1. A species of fictitious writing, originally composed in
meter in the Romance dialects, and afterward in prose,
such as the tales of the court of Arthur, and of Amadis of
Gaul; hence, any fictitious and wonderful tale; a sort of
novel, especially one which treats of surprising
adventures usually befalling a hero or a heroine; a tale
of extravagant adventures, of love, and the like.
``Romances that been royal.'' --Chaucer.

Upon these three columns -- chivalry, gallantry, and
religion -- repose the fictions of the Middle Ages,
especially those known as romances. These, such as
we now know them, and such as display the
characteristics above mentioned, were originally
metrical, and chiefly written by nations of the
north of France. --Hallam.

2. An adventure, or series of extraordinary events,
resembling those narrated in romances; as, his courtship,
or his life, was a romance.

3. A dreamy, imaginative habit of mind; a disposition to
ignore what is real; as, a girl full of romance.

4. The languages, or rather the several dialects, which were
originally forms of popular or vulgar Latin, and have now
developed into Italian. Spanish, French, etc. (called the
Romanic languages).

5. (Mus.) A short lyric tale set to music; a song or short
instrumental piece in ballad style; a romanza.



Syn: Fable; novel; fiction; tale.


Ro*mance", a.
Of or pertaining to the language or dialects known as
Romance.


Ro*mance", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Romanced; p. pr. &
vb. n. Romancing.]
To write or tell romances; to indulge in extravagant stories.

A very brave officer, but apt to romance. --Walpole.

Synonyms: butterfly, chat up, coquet, coquette, court, dally, flirt, Latin, Latinian language, love affair, love story, mash, philander, Romance language, romanticism, solicit, woo

See Also: act, bodice ripper, Catalan, chase, chase after, display, French, Gothic romance, intrigue, Italian, Latin, lie, love, move, novel, Portuguese, quality, relationship, Rumanian, Spanish, speak, stardust, story, talk, vamp, wanton

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