amorous, a.
(ˈæmərəs)
Forms: 4–5 amorouse, -rows, amirous, 4–6 amorus, amerous, 5 -us, -ouse, -ose, amourous(e, 6–7 amarous(e, 7 amorose, 4– amorous.
[a. OFr. amorous (mod.Fr. amoureux):—L. amōrōs-um, f. amōr love: see -ous.]
I. actively.
1. Of persons: Inclined to love; habitually fond of the opposite sex. Also fig. of things: Loving, fond.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 7988 Þys was a prest ryȝt amerous, And amerous men are leccherous. 1393 Gower Conf. I. 304 Whiche of the two more amorous is Or man or wife. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 90/1 Therfore saith the holy ghoost to the sowle that is amerouse. 1607 Topsell Four-footed Beasts (1673) 341 The hairs layed to Womens lips, maketh them amorous. 1610 J. Guillim Displ. Herald. iii. vii. (1660) 133 The Woodbine is a loving and amorous plant, which embraceth all that it growes near unto. 1616 R. C. Times' Whistle vi. 2583 Doth captive the hart Of amarous ladies. 1728 Young Odes to King Wks. 1757 I. 177 Beneath them lies, With lifted eyes, Fair Albion, like an amorous maid. 1807 Crabbe Par. Reg. ii. 405 Sir Edward Archer is an amorous knight. |
† b. with unto. Obs. rare.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy viii. 3926 Troilus was..amirous vnto Maidens & mony hym louyt. |
2. Affected with love towards one of the opposite sex; in love, enamoured, fond. Also fig. of things (both as subject and object of love). a. absol.
| c 1314 Guy Warw. 37 Namore wostow of armes loue..So amerous thou were anon right. c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 1189 This amerous quien. c 1440 Gesta Rom. ii. v. 285 The thirde knyght is wondir amerous, and lovethe you passyng well. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. iii. i. 63 Our fine Musitian groweth amorous. 1647 Cowley Bathing iii. in Mistress (1669) 79 The amorous Waves would fain about her stay. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 78 ¶4 The young Lady was amorous, and had like to run away with her Father's Coachman. 1822 W. Irving Braceb. Hall xix. 164 The amorous frog piped from among the rushes. |
† b. with on. Obs.
| c 1386 Chaucer Frankl. T. 764 This squier On Dorigen that was so amorus. 1477 Earl Rivers (Caxton) Dictes 146 He was amerous on somme noble lady. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado ii. i. 161 Sure my brother is amorous on Hero. 1625 Milton Death Fair Inf. i, Being amorous on that lovely dye That did thy cheek envermeil. |
c. with of.
| a 1450 Knt. de la Tour (1868) 168 There came another knyght which was also amerous of that lady. 1606 Shakes. Ant. & Cl. ii. ii. 202 And made The water to follow faster, As amorous of their strokes. 1692 Dryden St. Euremont's Ess. 212 One must be very amorous of a Truth, to search after it at that Price. 1821 Keats Isabel xix, Thy roses amorous of the moon. |
† d. with in: Delighting in. Obs. rare.
| a 1674 Clarendon Hist. Reb. II. viii. 392 He was amorous in Poetry, and Musick, to which he indulged the greatest part of his time. |
3. Of action, expression, etc.: Showing love or fondness; fond, loving. a. (sexual.)
| c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 1102 Many an Amorouse [v.r. amorous, amorows] lokynge & devys. 1493 Petronylla (Pynson) 123 Nightyngalys with amerous notys clere Salueth Esperus. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. xxvi. 72 His eyen gray and amorous. 1605 Shakes. Lear i. i. 48 France & Burgundy, Great Riuals in our yongest daughters loue, Long in our Court, haue made their amorous soiourne. 1750 Johnson Rambl. No. 182 ¶7 Not being accustomed to amorous blandishments. 1863 B. Taylor Poet's Jrnl. (1866) 54 Earth in amorous palpitation Receives her bridgegroom's kiss. |
b. (general): Loving, affectionate, devoted, ardent.
| 1677 Gale Crt. Gentiles II. iii. 64 Those amorose impetuosities that are in men and tend to pietie or impietie. Ibid. 145 An amorous vehemence against sin. 1784 J. Barry Lect. Art v. (1848) 187 With attention and amorous assiduity. 1856 R. Vaughan Ho. w. Mystics (1860) I. 65 The amorous quest of the soul after the Good. |
4. Of or pertaining to (sexual) love.
| c 1385 Chaucer L.G.W. 2616 Fful is the place..Of songis amerous, of maryage. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 31/2 The holy institucion of this amerous sacrament shold be the more honourably halowed. 1567 Drant Horace Ep. To Reader, So greate a scull of amarouse Pamphlets. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. iii. ii. 8 Louers can see to doe their Amorous rights, And by their owne Beauties. 1635 Swan Spec. Mundi vi. §4 (1643) 266 Sow-bread..is a good amorous medicine, and will make one in love. 1741 H. Walpole Lett. to H. Mann 7 (1834) I. 23 The poor Princess and her conjugal and amorous distresses. 1809 W. Irving Knickerb. 75 To manhood roused, he spurns the amorous flute. 1846 Prescott Ferd. & Is. I. viii. 373 Offered up his amorous incense on the altar of the Muse. |
† II. passively, Of persons and things: Lovable, lovely. Obs.
| c 1400 Rom. Rose 2901 It is thyng most amerous, For to aswage a mannes sorowe, To sene his lady by the morowe. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 37 His wyfe..buir to him ane virgin amorus. 1557 Primer Sarum D iij, O mother of God moste glorious, and amorous. 1567 Trial of Treas. in Hazl. Dodsley III. 288 O she is a minion of amorous hue. 1611 Dekker Roaring Girle 213, J. Here's most amorous weather, my Lord. Omnes. Amorous weather! J. Is not amorous a good word? |
† B. quasi-n. A lover; one in love. Obs.
| a 1440 Sir Degrev. 655 Sir Degrivaunt that amerus Had joye of that syȝth. 1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. (W. de Worde) i. xli. 62/2 How ofte she hath..made fayre herself for to playse her amourouse or loues. |