Love is a many splendored thing. That must be why there are so many ways to talk about it. Thanks to love songs, poetry, music, movies, and art, the language of love seems to be constantly expanding, and what better time to brush up on the myriad ways to express your love and affection than on Valentine鈥檚 Day? You might be working on a few love letters of your own or just curious about the origins of some of the most commonly used phrases in romance. Whether you have a deep love for words or you鈥檙e just looking for the right words to say 鈥淚 love you,鈥� here are 14 terms to know and use this Valentine鈥檚 Day.
cupid
A cupid is kind of like the official mascot of Valentine鈥檚 Day. When capitalized, Cupid refers to the ancient Roman god of love. When written in lowercase letters, cupid refers to representations of Cupid, like the commonly recognized image of a small boy with wings and a bow and arrow. The name Cupid comes from the Latin 颁耻辫墨诲艒, an equivalent to cupere, which means 鈥渢o long for, desire.鈥�
star-crossed
People sometimes mistake the term star-crossed to mean that people are destined to be together. While this word does have something to do with fate, it actually means 鈥渢hwarted or opposed by the stars; ill-fated.鈥� Think: Romeo and Juliet. They鈥檙e the ultimate example of star-crossed lovers, which makes sense, since the first use of the term is credited to William Shakespeare in his play about the pair.
admirer
Has someone special caught your eye this Valentine鈥檚 Day? If so, you might be an admirer. An admirer is 鈥渁 person who regards someone or something with wonder, pleasure, or approval.鈥� This admiration may be shared out in the open or someone might be a secret admirer. First recorded in the 1580s, admirer comes from the Latin 补诲尘墨谤腻谤墨, meaning 鈥渢o wonder at.鈥�
smitten
Smitten is most often used to mean 鈥渄eeply in love鈥�; however, it can also be used to indicate infatuation, especially as the result of being extremely fond of or impressed by something. Interestingly, smitten is the past participle of the verb smite, which means 鈥渢o strike.鈥� The implication is that someone who is smitten is struck by or strongly taken with their feelings. The first records of smitten in English come from the 1200s.
unrequited
If you find love this Valentine鈥檚 Day, we hope it鈥檚 not the unrequited kind. Unrequited means 鈥渘ot returned or reciprocated.鈥� It鈥檚 a form of requite, a word first used in English in the 1500s that means 鈥渢o give or do in return.鈥� The concept of unrequited love is well represented throughout literature, music, and art. The term has stuck around, even though requite hasn鈥檛 retained the same level of popularity.
woo
Woo is not just something you scream when you鈥檙e riding on a rollercoaster. It鈥檚 also a verb that means 鈥渢o seek the favor, affection, or love of, especially with a view to marriage.鈥� On Valentine鈥檚 Day, you might offer some chocolates to woo the object of your desire. The origins of woo are uncertain, but it was first recorded in English as early as 1050. It鈥檚 safe to say this is one word that has earned English speakers鈥� affection.
lovebirds
The term lovebirds generally refers to 鈥渁 pair of lovers, especially a married couple who show very close mutual love and concern.鈥� Lovebirds are two of a kind. They go together. But we know what you鈥檙e really wondering: are there actual birds called lovebirds? The answer is yes! The term lovebird is also a nickname for an affectionate breed of small parrots. The word has been in use in English since at least the 1580s.
betrothed
For those in serious relationships, Valentine鈥檚 Day might be the perfect time to become betrothed. Betrothed means 鈥渆ngaged to be married.鈥� It鈥檚 a form of betroth, a word from the late 1200s that means 鈥渢o arrange for the marriage of.鈥� Historically, couples may have become betrothed due to an agreement by their families, but the use of the word has evolved as societal ideas about love and marriage have evolved. Betrothed is a combination of be and the Middle English troth or trouthe, which means 鈥渇aithfulness, fidelity, or loyalty.鈥�
enamored
If you鈥檙e looking for a special word to describe the depth of your feelings, look no further than enamored. Enamored most commonly means 鈥渋n love,鈥� but it can also be used to mean 鈥渃harmed or captivated.鈥� First recorded between 1350 and 1400, enamored comes from the Middle English word enamouren, likely derived from the Old French enamourer. Amour, the root word, means 鈥渓ove affair.鈥�
courtship
Courtship is kind of a fancy, old-fashioned word for dating. It means 鈥渢he wooing of one person by another.鈥� Alternatively, it can also describe 鈥渢he period during which such wooing takes place.鈥� The word was first recorded in the 1590s and used to describe the period during which a man would spend time with a woman in the hopes of winning her consent to marry. These days, we take things a little slower. The early part of any dating relationship could be considered a courtship.
valentine
On Valentine鈥檚 Day, people typically ask someone to be their valentine, but what does that actually mean? A valentine is a sweetheart chosen or greeted on Valentine鈥檚 Day. Valentine and Valentine鈥檚 Day both get their names from the feast day of Saint Valentine, though there are at least two saints with this name. The modern usage of valentine was first recorded in English in the 1400s.
crush
The next word may get your pulse racing. A crush is 鈥渁n intense but usually short-lived infatuation with someone.鈥� Alternatively, it鈥檚 also what we call the object of that infatuation, as in, They are my crush. The word crush has been in use in English since at least the 1300s, but the romantic sense of the word wasn鈥檛 recorded until the late 1800s.
sweetheart
Although sweetheart sounds like the name of a candy, it鈥檚 actually a term of endearment that means 鈥渁 beloved person.鈥� In some places, it鈥檚 common to celebrate Valentine鈥檚 Day with a 鈥渟weetheart dance鈥� for couples, or you might see other events, like sweetheart brunches, dinner deals, or movie nights. Sweetheart sounds modern, but it has actually been in use in English since the mid-1200s.
swoon
鈥嬧�婣 great Valentine鈥檚 Day gift is one that leaves you swooning. Swoon means 鈥漷o enter a state of hysterical rapture or ecstasy.鈥� It comes from the Middle English verb swonen, meaning 鈥渢o faint.鈥� Indeed, to swoon can mean 鈥渢o faint or lose consciousness,鈥� but in the romantic sense, it typically describes a strong emotional response rooted in infatuation. For example, The fan swooned when Harry Styles smiled at her from the stage.
Sweet talk your way through the quiz
Keep your heart fluttering by visiting the Enamored Or Smitten? Here’s A List For You 51吃瓜 List, which offers flashcards and other features to help you learn. When you’re ready, you can dive into the wordie box of chocolates by taking our quiz based on these words.
