romance

romance [rō mans′, rō′mans΄]

n.

[ME < OFr romanz < romanz (escrire), (to write) in Roman (i.e., the vernacular, not Latin) < VL Romanice (scribere) < L Romanicus, Roman]

1. a long medieval narrative in verse or prose, orig. written in one of the Romance dialects, about the adventures of knights and other chivalric heroes

2. a fictitious tale of wonderful and extraordinary events, characterized by a nonrealistic and idealizing use of the imagination

3. a type of novel in which the emphasis is on love, adventure, etc.

4. the type of literature comprising such stories

5. excitement, love, and adventure of the kind found in such literature; romantic quality or spirit

6. the tendency to derive great pleasure from romantic adventures; romantic sentiment

7. an exaggeration or fabrication that has no real substance

8. a love affair

9. Music a short, lyrical, usually sentimental piece, suggesting a love song

vi.

romanced, romancing

1. to make up false or exaggerated stories

2. to think or talk about romantic things

3. Informal to make love; court; woo

vt.

Informal

1. to make love to; woo

2. to seek to gain the favor of, as by flattery; court

romancer

n.