ro•mance
(roʊˈmæns, ˈroʊ mæns)
n., v. -manced, -manc•ing,
adj. n. 1. a novel or other prose narrative depicting heroic or marvelous deeds, pageantry, exploits, etc., usu. in a historical or imaginary setting.
2. a medieval narrative, orig. one in verse and in a Romance language, treating of heroic, fantastic, or supernatural events, often in the form of allegory.
3. a made-up story, usu. full of fanciful invention.
4. a romantic spirit, sentiment, or the like.
5. romantic aura, setting, character, or quality.
6. a love affair.
7. (cap.) the Romance languages.
v.i. 8. to indulge in fanciful stories or daydreams.
9. to think or talk romantically.
v.t. 10. to court or woo romantically.
11. to court the favor of; play up to.
adj. 12. (cap.) of, pertaining to, or denoting the group of languages descended from the spoken Latin of the Roman Empire, including French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian.
[1250–1300; Middle English
romaunce Romance language, composition in such a language < Old French romance, n. use of feminine of
romanz, romans (adj.) written in the vernacular < Vulgar Latin
*Rōmānicē (adv.), derivative of Latin
Rōmānicus; see
Romanic]
ro•manc′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.