Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymons: French romans, romance.
Etymology: < Anglo-Norman romauns, romaunz, rumanz, rumauns, Anglo-Norman and Old French romanz, Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French romans, Middle French rommans, also (after words in -ance -ance suffix) Anglo-Norman romaunce, Anglo-Norman and Middle French romance (also Anglo-Norman and Middle French romant , romaunt (see discussion at romaunt n.), and hence (with loss of the final consonant) Middle French, French roman roman n.2) the vernacular French language (c1125 as ronmanz ; end of the 12th cent. as romant and roman ; 1596 as roman denoting vulgar Latin or the precursor of the modern Romance languages), French text which is a translation or adaptation of a Latin original (1140), medieval narrative (originally in verse, later also in prose) written in the vernacular rather than in Latin (and usually relating the legendary or extraordinary adventures of some hero of chivalry) (1155; frequently in titles of such works, e.g. the Roman de la Rose ; in modern French chiefly in sense ‘novel’: see roman n.2) < post-classical Latin romanice (adverb) in the vernacular (11th cent.; < classical Latin Rōmānicus Romanic adj. + -ē , suffix forming adverbs), with regular elision of the unstressed medial -i- . The β. forms are probably partly after the similar (but relatively rare) forms in Anglo-Norman and Middle French, and partly the result of similar remodelling after words in -ance suffix within English.
Compare Old Occitan romans , romanz Occitan language (12th cent.), text written in the vernacular (probably 12th cent.), Catalan romanç , †romans vernacular language, medieval narrative (originally in verse, later also in prose) relating the legendary or extraordinary adventures of some hero of chivalry (both 13th cent.), Spanish romance (noun) vernacular language, Spanish (13th cent.; also †romanz ), medieval narrative (originally in verse, later also in prose) relating the legendary or extraordinary adventures of some hero of chivalry (13th cent.; also †romanz ), Spanish poem in octosyllabic verses (first half of the 15th cent.; also †romanço ), (adjective) designating any of the languages descended from Latin (1823), Portuguese romance (noun) vernacular language (descended from Latin) (14th cent. as †romançii , †rromãço ), (adjective) of or relating to Old Occitan troubadour poetry (14th cent. as †rromanço), romanço (adjective) vernacular, (noun) medieval narrative (originally in verse, later also in prose) relating the legendary or extraordinary adventures of some hero of chivalry (both 14th cent.), Italian romanzo (noun) medieval narrative (originally in verse, later also in prose) relating the legendary or extraordinary adventures of some hero of chivalry (13th cent.), incredible story (1374), novel (a1698), (adjective) designating any of the languages descended from Latin (1708). Compare also post-classical Latin romancia story (1390 in a British source), vernacular language (1408, 1449), romancium , romantium something written in the vernacular (1290), Spanish language (13th cent.), French language (14th cent.). Compare later romaunt n., romaunt adj., and also later roman n.2
From the original use of the French noun in the sense ‘vernacular French language’ extended uses denoting texts written in the vernacular developed early on. Often such texts were adaptations or translations of Latin originals; for instance, Wace’s Brut and Benoît de Sainte-Maure’s Roman de Troie are based on Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia regum Britanniae and Dares Phrygius’s De excidio Troiae respectively. Texts which have no antecedent in Latin are also found from an early date, and the word came to be applied also to these. Since vernacular texts were usually narratives and often featured the adventures of heroes of chivalry, the terms romanz , romans , etc. came to denote such works in particular.
Senses A. 4, A. 5, A. 6, A. 7 all arose (apparently within English) ultimately from being characteristic of the style or content of the literary works denoted by senses A. 1 and A. 3. Compare similar use of French roman in the senses ‘web of allegations which have no factual basis or are intended to deceive people’ (1652), ‘implausible story’ (1656), ‘passionate love affair’ (1659), although these are first attested slightly later than the corresponding senses in English. Compare also the closely related semantic development of romantic adj.
In sense A. 2a after Spanish romance (see above). Compare ( < Spanish) Middle French, French romance old Spanish song (1599), Spanish poem in octosyllabic verses (1606; compare sense A. 2a). In sense A. 2b after French romance tender, sentimental, plaintive, or melancholic song (1719 in sense ‘naive and sentimental song’), apparently a transferred use romance Spanish song (see above). Compare later romanza n. and discussion at that entry.
In senses A. 9, B. 1b after the Romansh self-designation; compare earlier Romansh n., Romansh adj.
With sense B. 1a compare Middle French laingue romance (14th cent. in an apparently isolated attestation in a text from Lorraine), French langue romance language supposed to have constituted an intermediate stage between Latin and the modern Romance languages (1671), langue romane Romance language (1765).
The Romance nouns were also borrowed into other Germanic languages, chiefly in technical uses denoting various kinds of literary works or musical pieces; compare Middle Dutch romanse poem in a vernacular Romance language (late 15th cent.; < Middle French or Old Occitan) and Dutch romance , †romanze (1782; < French, probably via German), German Romanze (late 17th cent. in sense ‘medieval narrative’, 1756 in sense ‘popular ballad’, second half of the 18th cent. in senses ‘simple sentimental song’ and ‘musical composition of a tender or lyrical character’ ( > romanze n.); < French), Old Danish romanz (Danish romance , †romans , (now rare) romanze ), Swedish romans (1674; also †romanz , (now rare) romance ).
The apparent instance of the word in the following quot., previously interpreted as illustrating sense A. 4b, is transcribed in a later edition of the same text ( Archæol. Jrnl. (1886) 43 167) as somannce , i.e. a variant of summons n.:In Middle English and Older Scots, unchanged plural forms are frequently attested, although it is possible that some of these instances may reflect use as a collective noun.
Metrical evidence suggests that the position of the main stress has been variable from an early date. For modern evidence of stress on the first syllable compare:
In British English pronunciations with stress on the first syllable occur mainly in the senses at branch A. I., especially A. 5, A. 6, and A. 7, but probably less commonly than pronunciations with stress on the second syllable.
A. n.
I. As a literary genre, and derived senses.
1. A medieval narrative (originally in verse, later also in prose) relating the legendary or extraordinary adventures of some hero of chivalry. Also in extended use, with reference to narratives about important religious figures.
Originally denoting a composition in the vernacular (French, etc.), as contrasted with works in Latin.
†a. Without article. Obsolete.
c1300—1587
b. As a count noun.
c1330—2003
2.
a. A Spanish historical ballad or short epic poem, typically composed in octosyllabic lines.
?1548—1998
b. Music. Any of various kinds of short vocal or instrumental piece, typically simple, informal, or lyrical in character. Cf. romanza n. 2.
1783—2005
3.
a. A fictitious narrative, usually in prose, in which the settings or the events depicted are remote from everyday life, or in which sensational or exciting events or adventures form the central theme; a book, etc., containing such a narrative. Now chiefly archaic and historical.
A gradual development from sense A. 1, from which it is not always easily distinguished; quot. 1589 may be transitional, in that it refers to contemporary writing but is self-consciously in the tradition of the medieval chivalric romance (for a use of the older sense in the same source see quot. 1589 at sense A. 1bβ. ). The choice of a legendary or historical setting remained typical well into the 19th cent. In romances of the 16th and 17th centuries the story was often overlaid with long disquisitions and digressions from the plot. As a description of a literary genre the sense has now been largely eclipsed by sense A. 7.
See also scientific romance n. (b) at scientific adj. and n. Compounds 2.
1589—2004
b. figurative and in extended use.
1650—1987
c. The genre of literature which consists of romances (senses A. 1, A. 3a); romances as a class. Also figurative.
1656—2003
4.
a. An extravagant fabrication; a wild falsehood, a fantasy.
1638—1991
b. As a mass noun: the action of concocting extravagant falsehoods; wild exaggeration, speculation, or fantasy.
1668—2003
5.
a. The character or quality that makes something appeal strongly to the imagination, and sets it apart from the mundane; an air, feeling, or sense of wonder, mystery, and remoteness from everyday life; redolence or suggestion of, or association with, adventure, heroism, chivalry, etc.; mystique, glamour. Cf. romantic adj. 4.
1745—2008
b. Ardour or warmth of feeling in a love affair; love, esp. of an idealized or sentimental kind.
1858—2001
6. A love affair; a romantic relationship.
1844—2008
7. A story of romantic love, esp. one which deals with love in a sentimental or idealized way; a book, film, etc., with a narrative or story of this kind. Also as mass noun: literature of this kind.
1901—2004
II. Senses relating to language. In later use with capital initial.
Thesaurus »
8. Originally: the vernacular language of medieval France, as opposed to Latin. In later use also: any of various related Romance languages (see sense B. 1a), such as Provençal (Occitan) and Spanish. Now esp.: the Romance languages collectively.
1348—2000(Show quotations)
†9. = Romansh n. Cf. Rhaeto-Romance n. Obsolete.
1821—1897
B. adj.1 (chiefly attributive).
1.
a. With capital initial. Designating any of the various Indo-European languages which descended from Latin; of or relating to such a language, or these languages collectively.
The Romance languages developed from Vulgar Latin after the collapse of the Roman Empire. The modern Romance languages include Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Romanian, and Catalan.
In quot. 1421 romance book is used specifically to denote a book written in French.
1421—2008
†b. = Romansh adj. Obsolete.
1862—1862
2. Of, relating to, or of the nature of romance (sense A. 3c). Formerly also: †having the character or attributes associated with (esp. medieval and Renaissance) romances, as chivalry, heroism, etc. (obsolete).
1631—1994
Compounds
C1. (In senses of branch A. I.)
a. General attributive and appositive, as romance book, romance novel, etc.
1662—2009
b. Objective, as romance-maker, romance-writer, etc.; romance-reading, romance-writing, etc. Also romance-inspiring, romance-making, etc., adjs.
c1300—2007
c. Instrumental, as romance-filled, romance-hallowed, etc., adjs.
1846—2000
C2. In senses of branch A. II. (and corresponding senses of the adjective), as Romance-based, Romance-speaking adjs., etc.
Forms: 1600s romanticke, 1600s romantique, 1600s–1700s romantick, 1600s– romantic.
Frequency (in current use): Show frequency band information
Origin: Either (i) formed within English, by derivation. Or perhaps (ii) a borrowing from Latin. Etymons: English romant , romaunt n., -ic suffix; Latin romanticus.
Etymology: Either < romant, variant of romaunt n. + -ic suffix, or perhaps < post-classical Latin romanticus (of a poem) having the nature or qualities of a romance (1648 in an Italian source, or earlier; 15th cent. as romanticum (neuter noun) in sense ‘poem written in French having the nature or qualities of a romance’; apparently < Middle French romant + -icus -ic suffix).
Perhaps compare earlier French romanesque Romanesque adj. The semantic development of the word parallels that of romance n. Compare French romantique (1675 as adjective, 1801 as noun), which apparently shows a borrowing < English, and compare also Spanish romántico (1824 as adjective, 1854 or earlier as noun), Portuguese romántico (1858 as adjective; also as noun), Italian romantico (1814 as adjective, 1816 (in sense ‘Romanticist’) as noun), Dutch romantisch (early 19th cent.), German romantisch (1695, earliest in a trilingual dictionary published in Geneva (glossing French romantique )), all apparently showing borrowing < either the English or the French word. With the use as noun in sense B. 3a compare German Romantiker (1802).
A. adj.
1.
a. Of a narrative, work of fiction, etc.: having the nature or qualities of a romance (romance n. 1, 3a) as regards form or content. Of an author: that writes romances; tending to write in the manner of a romance.
1650—1992
b. Of language, style, etc.: suitable for a romance; esp. overblown, euphuistic, flowery. Now rare.
1653—1917
2.
†a. That is told of in romances; fabled. Also: characteristic of or befitting a romance; of a kind that may be found in romances. Obsolete.
1653—1730
b. Of a statement, story, character, etc.: fictitious, invented; having no foundation in fact. Formerly also: †(of a thing) having no real existence, imaginary (obsolete). Now rare.
1654—1905
3.
a. Of an idea, plan, etc.: fantastic, extravagant, quixotic; going beyond what is customary or practical. Of a person, personality, etc.: given to or characterized by such ideas; responsive to the promptings of imagination or fancy regardless of practicality.
1659—2004
b. That gives free rein to the imagination; indulging in fancy or fantasy; fanciful; sentimental; idealistic.
1755—2007
4. Characterized or marked by, or invested with, a sense of romance (romance n. 5a); arising from, suggestive of, or appealing to, an idealized, fantastic, or sentimental view of life or reality; atmospheric, evocative, glamorous.
1666—2007
5.
a. Of love or friendship: of an idealized kind (originally spec. such as might be felt or demonstrated by the heroes of romance), esp. in being chivalrous, devoted, or selfless. Of a person: displaying such love or friendship. Later more generally: of or relating to (esp. idealized or sentimental) love. Cf. romance n. 5b.
In later use esp. with reference to the emotional element of a relationship, in contrast to its physical or sexual aspects.
1732—2005
b. Of an occasion, activity, gesture, etc.: involving or characteristic of romance (romance n. 5b); conducive to feelings of romance.
1845—2006
c. Of a person. Chiefly predicative.
(a) Demonstrating feelings of love and tenderness; given to (impulsive) acts of romanticism and affection; amorous, loving, affectionate.
1866—2009
(b) Desirous of or wanting love and romance. Later also: in the mood for sexual intercourse; sexually aroused; ‘turned on’. Chiefly in to feel (also get) romantic.
1885—2008
d. Of a story, novel, film, etc.: having love or a love affair as its subject. Of a character, actor, etc.: featuring or starring in such a story, film, etc.; specializing or suited for such roles. Cf. romance n. 7.
1907—2005
6. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a style of dramatic production (now chiefly ballet) which makes use of legendary, exotic, or imaginary settings, typically to explore the conflict between man and nature or the supernatural. Now chiefly historical.
Originally perhaps simply a contextual use of sense A. 1a; early examples may suggest no more than that the production in question is considered to share some of the attractive features (setting, excitement, etc.) of contemporary romances. With reference to ballet a narrower definition has been widely used, as applicable to works and styles prevalent during the second quarter of the 19th cent., in which the emphasis was predominantly on mood or atmosphere, and ballet technique was expanded, especially for female dancers.
In later use often indistinguishable from sense A. 7.
1798—2009
7. Frequently as Romantic. Designating, relating to, or characteristic of a movement or style during the late 18th and 19th centuries in Europe marked by an emphasis on feeling, individuality, and passion rather than classical form and order, and typically preferring grandeur, picturesqueness, or naturalness to finish and proportion. Generally opposed to classical (see classical adj. 7). See also neo-romantic adj., New Romantic adj., pre-Romantic adj., etc.
a. With reference to literature, art, etc.
Originally applied to poetry (cf. sense A. 1a), following the use in an equivalent sense of German romantisch by Friedrich Schlegel (see quot. 1798) and others. Romantic is occasionally found contrasted with classical in earlier sources, but without the specific connotations of this sense. For a fuller discussion see H. Eichner ‘Romantic’ & its Cognates (1972).
1812—2008
b. With reference to music.
Used esp. with reference to music composed in the second half of the 19th cent.
1836—2007
B. n.
†1. A writer of romances. Obsolete. rare.
1664—1664
2. A romantic feature, characteristic, etc.; (chiefly in plural) romantic behaviour or manner. Now rare.
1678—1952
3. Frequently as Romantic.
a. An adherent or practitioner of Romanticism in literature, art, etc.; a Romanticist. Cf. New Romantic n.
1827—2001
b. A composer of Romantic music.
1892—1992
4. A romantic, sentimental, or idealistic person.
1829—2003
Compounds
C1.
a. Complementary, as romantic-looking, romantic-seeming, etc., adjs.
1789—1995
b. Parasynthetic, as romantic-scened, romantic-themed adjs.
1828—1994
C2.
romantic comedy n. (originally) a comedy having qualities associated with a literary romance (cf. sense A. 1a); (subsequently also) a film or other work with a light, comedic tone and a plot centring on a romantic relationship (often viewed in a sentimental or idealized way); this style or genre; cf. romcom n.
1748—2008
Romantic irony n. (also with lower-case initial in the first element) Literary Criticism an attitude of detached scepticism adopted by an author towards his or her work, typically manifesting in literary self-consciousness and self-reflection.
[After German romantische Ironie (early 19th cent. or earlier). This conception of irony originated with the German Romantic writer and critic Friedrich Schlegel (1772–1829).]
1853—2010
Romantic Revival n. the resurgence of interest in the literature of earlier periods during the late 18th and early 19th centuries which gave rise to the Romantic movement.
1862—2004
