valentine

Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Val·en·tine

(văl′ən-tīn′), Saint fl. third century ad.

Roman Christian who according to tradition was martyred during the persecution of Christians by Emperor Claudius II. Saint Valentine's Day was primarily celebrated in his honor, but was also inspired by another martyr named Valentine, who was bishop of Terni, a region in central Italy.

val·en·tine

(văl′ən-tīn′)

a. A sentimental or humorous greeting card sent to a sweetheart, friend, or family member, for example, on Saint Valentine's Day.

b. A gift sent as a token of love to one's sweetheart on Saint Valentine's Day.

2. A person singled out especially as one's sweetheart on Saint Valentine's Day.

[After Saint Valentine.]

Word History: Lovers and the greeting card industry may have Geoffrey Chaucer to thank for the holiday that warms the coldest month. In the late 1300s, we begin to find the first clear references to a tradition relating February 14, St. Valentine's Day, to romantic love: St. Valentine's Day is the day on which the birds, returning in the very early spring, choose their mates. (Spring was often thought to begin in the middle of February in 14th-century Europe.) Although reference books abound with references to Roman festivals from which St. Valentine's Day may derive, there is in fact very little evidence of such a connection between ancient pagan customs and the modern holiday. Moreover, there are several saints named Valentine in the Christian tradition, but there is nothing in particular in the life stories of any of these Valentines that might have inspired the late medieval traditions surrounding St. Valentine's Day. The scholar Jack B. Oruch has therefore suggested that Chaucer was probably the first to link the saint's day with the custom of choosing sweethearts. No such link has been found before the writings of Chaucer and several literary contemporaries who also mention it, but after them the association becomes widespread. Oruch proposes that Chaucer, the most imaginative of his literary circle, invented it. The earliest description of the tradition may occur in Chaucer's Parlement of Foules, composed around 1380, which takes place on Seynt Valentynes day, / Whan every foul [bird] cometh there to chese [choose] his make [mate].

valentine

(ˈvælənˌtaɪn)

1. a card or gift expressing love or affection, sent, often anonymously, to one's sweetheart or satirically to a friend, on Saint Valentine's Day

2. a sweetheart selected for such a greeting

Valentine

(ˈvælənˌtaɪn)

(Biography) Saint. 3rd century ad, Christian martyr, associated by historical accident with the custom of sending valentines; bishop of Terni. Feast day: Feb 14

val•en•tine

(ˈvæl ənˌtaɪn)

n.

1. a card or message, usu. amatory or sentimental, or a gift sent by one person to another on Valentine's Day, sometimes anonymously.

2. a sweetheart chosen or greeted on this day.

3. a written or other artistic work, message, etc., expressing affection.

[1400–50; late Middle English, after the feast of Saint Valentine]

Val•en•tine

(ˈvæl ənˌtaɪn)

n.

Saint, died A.D. c270, Christian martyr at Rome.

valentine

- Formerly a person chosen as a sweetheart or special friend, named for either of two Italian saints.

valentine

[ˈvæləntaɪn] N

1. (St) Valentine's Day → día m de San Valentín, día m de los enamorados (14 febrero)

2. (also valentine card) → tarjeta f del día de San Valentín, tarjeta f de los enamorados (enviada por jóvenes, sin firmar, de tono amoroso o jocoso)

3. (= person) → novio/a m/f (escogido el día de San Valentín)

valentine

[ˈvæləntaɪn] n

(also valentine card) → carte f de la Saint-Valentin

(= sweetheart) → Valentin(e) m/f
be my valentine → Sois ma Valentine, Sois mon ValentinValentine's day n → la Saint-Valentin

valentine

n (= person) Freund(in), dem/der man am Valentinstag einen Gruß schickt; valentine (card) → Valentinskarte f; St Valentine’s Day → Valentinstag m

valentine

[ˈvælənˌtaɪn] n (card) biglietto di auguri per San Valentino; (sweetheart) → innamorato/a

valentine

(ˈvӕləntain) noun

a sweetheart chosen, or a card, love letter etc sent, on St. Valentine's Day, February 14. Will you be my valentine?; He sent her a valentine.

References in classic literature ?

Pressing his lips close to the planks, he exclaimed, "Don't be alarmed, Valentine -- it is I!" Again the timid girl found courage to return to the gate, saying, as she did so, "And why do you come so late to-day?

"Dearest Valentine," said the young man, "the difference between our respective stations makes me fear to offend you by speaking of my love, but yet I cannot find myself in your presence without longing to pour forth my soul, and tell you how fondly I adore you.

But listen to me, Valentine, and I will tell you all about it.

Think of that, Valentine! There is nothing now to prevent my building myself a little hut on my plantation, and residing not twenty yards from you.

"How can you for an instant entertain so unworthy a thought, dear Valentine? Have I not, from the first blessed hour of our acquaintance, schooled all my words and actions to your sentiments and ideas?

You have permitted me to converse with you from time to time, Valentine, but forbidden my ever following you in your walks or elsewhere -- have I not obeyed?

"It is true," said Valentine, as she passed the end of her slender fingers through a small opening in the planks, and permitted Maximilian to press his lips to them, "and you are a true and faithful friend; but still you acted from motives of self-interest, my dear Maximilian, for you well knew that from the moment in which you had manifested an opposite spirit all would have been ended between us.

"Valentine," replied the young man, deeply affected, "I will not say you are all I love in the world, for I dearly prize my sister and brother-in-law; but my affection for them is calm and tranquil, in no manner resembling what I feel for you.

"Hate you, sweet Valentine," exclaimed the young man; "how is it possible for any one to do that?"

"But why, Valentine, do you persist in anticipating the worst, -- why picture so gloomy a future?"

My fortune, though small, is free and unfettered, and the memory of my late father is respected in our country, Valentine, as that of the most upright and honorable merchant of the city; I say our country, because you were born not far from Marseilles."

"I fear, Valentine," replied the lover, "that were she living I should never have had the happiness of knowing you; you would then have been too happy to have stooped from your grandeur to bestow a thought on me."

Noun	1.	valentine - a sweetheart chosen to receive a greeting on Saint Valentine's Day; "will you be my valentine?" steady, sweetheart, sweetie, truelove - a person loved by another person
	2.	Valentine - a card sent or given (as to a sweetheart) on Saint Valentine's Day greeting card - a card sent to express personal greetings