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.
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
(Zoöl.), 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 agapæ 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 fœtida, 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.
Love (lv), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Loved (lvd); p. pr. & vb. n. Loving.]
[AS. lufian. √124. See Love, n.] 1. To have a feeling of love
for; to regard with affection or good will; as, to love one's children
and friends; to love one's country; to love one's God.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Matt. xxii. 37.
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.
Matt. xxii. 39.
2. To regard with passionate and devoted affection, as that of one sex
for the other.
3. To take delight or pleasure in; to have a strong liking or desire
for, or interest in; to be pleased with; to like; as, to love books; to
love adventures.
Wit, eloquence, and poetry. Arts which I loved.
Cowley.
Love, v. i. To have the feeling of love; to be in love.
Love"a*ble (?), a. See Lovable.
Love"-dru`ry, n. [Love + OF. druerie. Cf. Druery.] Affection. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Lov*ee" (?), n. One who is loved. [Humorous] "The lover and lovee."
Richardson.
Love"ful (?), a. Full of love. [Obs.] Sylvester.
Love"less, a. 1. Void of love; void of tenderness or kindness. Milton.
Shelton.