love

love
love
In literature of the 16c to 19c, the expression to make love to means ‘to court, to be amorous towards’

• (‘Who's had the impudence to make love to my sister!’ cried Harry —George Meredith, 1861)

whereas in modern literature it means ‘to have sexual intercourse with’. This more specific meaning arose during the 20c, and has driven out the older meaning much as the sexual sense of intercourse has driven out, or at least compromised, all its other uses. Regard for the date of writing is therefore important on encountering the expression in print.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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Synonyms:
, , , , , , , , , , / , , , , , / , , , , , , , , / , / , , / , , / , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • love — love …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Love — (l[u^]v), n. [OE. love, luve, AS. lufe, lufu; akin to E. lief, believe, L. lubet, libet, it pleases, Skr. lubh to be lustful. See {Lief}.] 1. A feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands admiration; pre[ e]minent… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Love — (engl. Liebe) bezeichnet: Love (Band), Rockband der 1960er und 70er Jahre Love (Lied), litauischer Beitrag zum Eurovision Song Contest 2009 Love (Stephen King), Roman von Stephen King Love (The Beatles Album), Musikalbum der Beatles Love (The… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Love Me Do — Single par The Beatles extrait de l’album Please Please Me Face A Love Me Do Face B P.S. I Love You Sortie …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Love —     Love (Theological Virtue)     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Love (Theological Virtue)     The third and greatest of the Divine virtues enumerated by St. Paul (1 Cor., xiii, 13), usually called charity, defined: a divinely infused habit, inclining …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • LOVE — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Love signifie amour en anglais. Ce nom peut désigner : Sommaire 1 Cinéma 2 Musique …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Love? — álbum de estudio de Jennifer Lopez Publicación 3 de mayo de 2011[1] Grabación 2008 2011 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Love Me Do — «Love Me Do» Сингл The Beatles из альбома Please Please Me Сторона «А» Love Me Do Сторона «Б» P.S. I Love You Выпущен 5 октября, 1962 27 апреля …   Википедия

  • love — [luv] n. [ME < OE lufu, akin to OHG luba, Goth lubo < IE base * leubh , to be fond of, desire > LIBIDO, LIEF, LUST] 1. a deep and tender feeling of affection for or attachment or devotion to a person or persons 2. an expression of one s… …   English World dictionary

  • Love Me Do — «Love Me Do» Sencillo de The Beatles del álbum Please Please Me Lado B «P.S. I Love You» Publicación …   Wikipedia Español

  • Love.at — http://www.love.at Motto Österreichs größte Singlebörse und Partnersuche Kommerziell ja Beschreibung Singlebörse …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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