Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Love \Love\, 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 kindness or
      devotion to another; affection; tenderness; as, the love
      of brothers and sisters.

            Of all the dearest bonds we prove Thou countest
            sons' and mothers' love Most sacred, most Thine own.
                                                  --Keble.

   2. Especially, devoted attachment to, or tender or passionate
      affection for, one of the opposite sex.

            He on his side Leaning half-raised, with looks of
            cordial love Hung over her enamored.  --Milton.

   3. Courtship; -- chiefly in the phrase to make love, i. e.,
      to court, to woo, to solicit union in marriage.

            Demetrius . . . Made love to Nedar's daughter,
            Helena, And won her soul.             --Shak.

   4. Affection; kind feeling; friendship; strong liking or
      desire; fondness; good will; -- opposed to {hate}; often
      with of and an object.

            Love, and health to all.              --Shak.

            Smit with the love of sacred song.    --Milton.

            The love of science faintly warmed his breast.
                                                  --Fenton.

   5. Due gratitude and reverence to God.

            Keep yourselves in the love of God.   --Jude 21.

   6. The object of affection; -- often employed in endearing
      address. ``Trust me, love.'' --Dryden.

            Open the temple gates unto my love.   --Spenser.

   7. Cupid, the god of love; sometimes, Venus.

            Such was his form as painters, when they show Their
            utmost art, on naked Lores bestow.    --Dryden.

            Therefore do nimble-pinioned doves draw Love.
                                                  --Shak.

   8. A thin silk stuff. [Obs.] --Boyle.

   9. (Bot.) A climbing species of Clematis ({C. Vitalba}).

   10. Nothing; no points scored on one side; -- used in
       counting score at tennis, etc.

             He won the match by three sets to love. --The
                                                  Field.

   Note: Love is often used in the formation of compounds, in
         most of which the meaning is very obvious; as,
         love-cracked, love-darting, love-killing, love-linked,
         love-taught, etc.

   {A labor of love}, a labor undertaken on account of regard
      for some person, or through pleasure in the work itself,
      without expectation of reward.

   {Free love}, the doctrine or practice of consorting with one
      of the opposite sex, at pleasure, without marriage. See
      {Free love}.

   {Free lover}, one who avows or practices free love.

   {In love}, in the act of loving; -- said esp. of the love of
      the sexes; as, to be in love; to fall in love.

   {Love apple} (Bot.), the tomato.

   {Love bird} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of small,
      short-tailed parrots, or parrakeets, of the genus
      {Agapornis}, and allied genera. They are mostly from
      Africa. Some species are often kept as cage birds, and are
      celebrated for the affection which they show for their
      mates.

   {Love broker}, a person who for pay acts as agent between
      lovers, or as a go-between in a sexual intrigue. --Shak.

   {Love charm}, a charm for exciting love. --Ld. Lytton.

   {Love child}. an illegitimate child. --Jane Austen.

   {Love day}, a day formerly appointed for an amicable
      adjustment of differences. [Obs.] --Piers Plowman.
      --Chaucer.

   {Love drink}, a love potion; a philter. --Chaucer.

   {Love favor}, something given to be worn in token of love.

   {Love feast}, a religious festival, held quarterly by some
      religious denominations, as the Moravians and Methodists,
      in imitation of the agap[ae] of the early Christians.

   {Love feat}, the gallant act of a lover. --Shak.

   {Love game}, a game, as in tennis, in which the vanquished
      person or party does not score a point.

   {Love grass}. [G. liebesgras.] (Bot.) Any grass of the genus
      {Eragrostis}.

   {Love-in-a-mist}. (Bot.)
       (a) An herb of the Buttercup family ({Nigella Damascena})
           having the flowers hidden in a maze of finely cut
           bracts.
       (b) The West Indian {Passiflora f[oe]tida}, which has
           similar bracts.

   {Love-in-idleness} (Bot.), a kind of violet; the small pansy.

            A little western flower, Before milk-white, now
            purple with love's wound; And maidens call it
            love-in-idleness.                     --Shak.

   {Love juice}, juice of a plant supposed to produce love.
      --Shak.

   {Love knot}, a knot or bow, as of ribbon; -- so called from
      being used as a token of love, or as a pledge of mutual
      affection. --Milman.

   {Love lass}, a sweetheart.

   {Love letter}, a letter of courtship. --Shak.

   {Love-lies-bleeding} (Bot.), a species of amaranth
      ({Amarantus melancholicus}).

   {Love match}, a marriage brought about by love alone.

   {Love potion}, a compounded draught intended to excite love,
      or venereal desire.

   {Love rites}, sexual intercourse. --Pope

   {Love scene}, an exhibition of love, as between lovers on the
      stage.

   {Love suit}, courtship. --Shak.

   {Of all loves}, for the sake of all love; by all means.
      [Obs.] ``Mrs. Arden desired him of all loves to come back
      again.'' --Holinshed.

   {The god of love}, or {Love god}, Cupid.

   {To make love to}, to express affection for; to woo. ``If you
      will marry, make your loves to me.'' --Shak.

   {To play for love}, to play a game, as at cards, without
      stakes. ``A game at piquet for love.'' --Lamb.

   Syn: Affection; friendship; kindness; tenderness; fondness;
        delight.

Flower-gentle \Flow"er-gen`tle\, n. (Bot.)
   A species of amaranth ({Amarantus melancholicus}).