First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1romance
noun ro·mance \rō-ˈman(t)s, rə-; ˈrō-ˌ\
Definition of ROMANCE
1
a (1) : a medieval tale based on legend, chivalric love and adventure, or the supernatural (2) : a prose narrative treating imaginary characters involved in events remote in time or place and usually heroic, adventurous, or mysterious (3) : a love story especially in the form of a novel b : a class of such literature
2
: something (as an extravagant story or account) that lacks basis in fact
3
: an emotional attraction or aura belonging to an especially heroic era, adventure, or activity
4
5
capitalized : the Romance languages
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Origin of ROMANCE
Middle English romauns, from Anglo-French romanz French, narrative in French, from Medieval Latin Romanice in a vernacular (as opposed to Latin), from Late Latin Romanus Gallo-Romance speaker (as opposed to a Frank), from Latin, Roman
Other Literature Terms
2romance
verb
: to have or try to have a romantic relationship with (someone)
: to give special attention to (someone) in order to get something that you want from that person
: to talk about something in a way that makes it seem better than it really is
ro·mancedro·manc·ing
Full Definition of ROMANCE
intransitive verb
1
: to exaggerate or invent detail or incident
2
: to entertain romantic thoughts or ideas
transitive verb
1
: to try to influence or curry favor with especially by lavishing personal attention, gifts, or flattery
2
: to carry on a love affair with
See romance defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of ROMANCE
1655
Rhymes with ROMANCE
3romance
noun
Definition of ROMANCE
: a short instrumental piece in ballad style
Origin of ROMANCE
German Romanze & French romance, both ultimately from Spanish romance romance, ballad, from Old Occitan & Old French romanz
First Known Use: circa 1854
Romance
adjective Ro·mance \rō-ˈman(t)s, rə-; ˈrō-ˌ\
Definition of ROMANCE
: of, relating to, or being any of the languages developed from Latin (as Italian, French, and Spanish)
See Romance defined for kids First Known Use of ROMANCE
1690
Other Language Terms
Rhymes with ROMANCE
ROMANCE[1] Defined for Kids
romance
noun ro·mance \rō-ˈmans\
Definition of ROMANCE for Kids
1
: an attraction or appeal to the emotions <the romance of the sea>
2
: a love story
3
: a love affair
4
: an old tale of knights and noble ladies
5
: an adventure story
Romance
adjective Ro·mance \rō-ˈmans\
Definition of ROMANCE for Kids
: relating to or being the languages (as French, Italian, and Spanish) that are descended from Latin
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