Definitions for the word "romance" from multiple English dictionaries.
1. n.
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.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. n.
An adventure, or series of extraordinary events, resembling those narrated in romances; as, his courtship, or his life, was a romance.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. n.
A dreamy, imaginative habit of mind; a disposition to ignore what is real; as, a girl full of romance.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. n.
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).
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. n.
A short lyric tale set to music; a song or short instrumental piece in ballad style; a romanza.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. a.
Of or pertaining to the language or dialects known as Romance.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. v. i.
To write or tell romances; to indulge in extravagant stories.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. n.
1 idealized, poetic, or unworldly atmosphere or tendency. 2 a love affair. B mutual attraction in this. C sentimental or idealized love. 3 a literary genre concerning romantic love, stirring action, etc. B work of this genre. 4 medieval, esp. Verse, tale of chivalry, common in the romance languages. 5 a exaggeration, lies. B instance of this. 6 (romance) (often attrib.) Languages descended from latin. 7 mus. Short informal piece. v. (-cing) 1 exaggerate, distort the truth, fantasize. 2 court, woo. [romanic: related to *romanic]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
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