English
lover
Etymology 1

From Middle English lovere, luffer, lufere, equivalent to .

Pronunciation
  • (America) IPA: /ˈlʌvɚ/
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈlʌvə/
Noun

lover (plural lovers)

  1. One who loves and cares for another person in a romantic way; a sweetheart, love, soulmate, boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse.
    Synonyms: love, love interest, spouse, sweetheart, significant other, Thesaurus:lover
    • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act II, scene vi], page 170 ↗, column 2:
      […] loue is blinde, and louers cannot ſee / The pretty follies that themſelues commit, […]
  2. A sexual partner, especially one with whom someone is having an affair.
    Synonyms: Thesaurus:sexual partner
    • 2018 January 17, "Libra Woman: Personality Traits: Love & More", Astrology.com
      A Libra woman seems to always be in love - either with her long term partner or with an ever-changing series of rotating lovers.
  3. A person who loves something.
    Synonyms: connoisseur
    a lover of fine wines
    a lover of his/her own country
    • 1888–1891, Herman Melville, “[Billy Budd, Foretopman.] Chapter XVIII.”, in Billy Budd and Other Stories, London: John Lehmann, published 1951, →OCLC ↗, page 279 ↗:
      But though a conscientious disciplinarian he was no lover of authority for mere authority's sake.
  4. (West Country, with "my") An informal term of address for any friend.
    All right, me lover?
Translations Translations Translations Noun

lover (plural lovers)

  1. Obsolete form of louver


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