‘Love’ is a word used to describe one of the most, if not the most, potent experiences available to humans. But what ‘love’ means from person to person, let alone from century to century, is one of the most varied in the English language. The word ‘love’ was once ‘*leubh’, a word used by the Proto-Indo-Europeans approximately five thousand years ago to describe care and desire. When ‘love’ was incorporated into Old English as ‘lufu’, it had turned into both a noun to describe, ‘deep affection’ and its offspring verb, ‘to be very fond of’.
One of the earliest uses of ‘love’, and its biggest influence, was religion. ‘Love’ was used to describe the benevolence and affection of God, as well as the affectionate devotion due to God, ‘God is loue, and hee that dwelleth in loue, dwelleth in God’ (John 4:16). From this widely recognized meaning, ‘love’ began to be used to positively describe instances of affection or acts of kindness.
From Middle English onwards, the most popular meaning for ‘love’ however was to describe a ‘beloved person’(1255)-especially one’s sweetheart. This naturally turned ‘love’ into an intimate form of address which began to describe goings on of ‘lovers’ such as love letters (c.1240) and love songs (c.1310). One could say that they had ‘fallen in love’ with someone from 1423, and under a hundred years later that they were ‘lovesick’ (1530). To ‘make love’ (1580) meant to ‘pay amorous attention’ to another person and it wasn’t till the middle of the twentieth century that it became a euphemism for sexual intercourse. The word ‘love’ was introduced to tennis from 1742 to mean ‘no score’- from the notion of playing ‘for love’, came the notion ‘playing for nothing’.
Of course the sexual meaning of ‘love’ was present from the very beginnings of Old English, but it was not till the late 17th century that ‘love’ was more strongly associated with sex. At first ‘love’ was used to describe the personification of sexual affection in the form of cupid, ‘Wher’er her step in beauty moves, around her fly a thousand loves’. By the early 18th century however, ‘love’ began to mean an illicit partner, or even sexual intercourse itself. From this meaning came the negative term ‘love brat’, or its modern form ‘love child’ (1805), which described a ‘child born out of wedlock’. New meanings for ‘love’ were still being created well into the 20th century- ‘love life’ (1919) began to mean ‘one’s collective amorous activities’ and was originally used as psychological jargon.
FAQs
While love can be a foundational element, love alone is not enough to sustain a fulfilling and healthy relationship. To understand this concept, exploring the fundamental dynamics that make up a strong, healthy bond, regardless of how much love exists between partners, may be helpful.
What does love is enough mean? ›
The poem begins with the speaker stating that “Love is enough.” As will become clear in the following lines, what he means by this phrase is that love is enough in the face of darkness. It has the power to make lovers fearless in a world that contains a lot of drab and depressing places.
What is love ❤? ›
: a quality or feeling of strong or constant affection for and dedication to another. motherly love. 2. a. : attraction based on sexual desire : the strong affection and tenderness felt by lovers.
Is love enough in a marriage? ›
No, love alone is not enough in marriage. A successful marriage requires communication, commitment, trust, and respect. Love is important, but it is only one part of a strong, healthy relationship.
Can a man love you and be with someone else? ›
Yes, it is possible for a guy to love you but be with someone else. It can result from various reasons, such as commitment issues, fear of change, or obligations towards the other person. However, it's essential to prioritize your emotional well-being.
Can you love someone but be unhappy? ›
(Yes, you can love someone but still be unhappy.) “Ask yourself: If today is my last day, can I say that I'm in the relationship that I want to be in? That I deserve to be in?” says Branson. If the answers are no, acknowledge that what you want does matter—and that it ultimately might be worth ending your relationship.
Why isn t love enough meaning in english? ›
But if, like Reznor, we believe that “love is not enough,” then we understand that healthy relationships require more than pure emotion or lofty passions. We understand that there are things more important in our lives and our relationships than simply being in love.
Is love enough of a reason to stay? ›
Love won't always be enough to keep two people together, and some people may want to move on to a new chapter in their life. People change, and desires can change, as well. This can be very hard for people to come to terms with, but unhappiness is a common reason why people leave someone they love.
Why is love never enough in a relationship? ›
Solid relationships are much more about compatibility, understanding and shared wants than just love. Compatibility — The ability for you both to co-exist, to create a world that allows you both to flourish, to enter each other's world and not feel lost.
Can a man love 2 woman equally? ›
Can a guy love two ladies equally? It is possible to love two people at once and feel the same amount of love for both people. This is a common occurrence for people who are polyamorous, or who have relationships with multiple people at once.
For many men, it involves being physically attracted to the woman. But if he's in love, it's not just about the physical attraction. Men like to have things in common with their partners. Most men want to enjoy spending time with the woman he's in love with. Trust and respect are also important factors in love.
What is love in 5 words? ›
tenderness, fondness, predilection, warmth, passion, adoration. 1, 2. love, affection, devotion all mean a deep and enduring emotional regard, usually for another person.
How many married couples actually love each other? ›
50% of marriages end in divorce… out of the other 50%, about half are really unhappy but can't divorce because of finances or young kids. That leaves us with just another 25% of marriages that TOLERATE each other. Out of those only about 10% are still in love.
Which is better love or marriage? ›
There is no definitive answer. A successful marriage depends on mutual understanding, respect and compromise between partners, not how they first met. Both arranged and love marriages have the potential for happiness and longevity.
Can you love someone but the relationship not work? ›
Loving someone but knowing it's not going to work out can be a painful and difficult situation. Here are some steps you can take to cope with this situation: 1. Accept reality: Recognize that the relationship is not working out, and that it is not healthy or sustainable to continue pursuing it.
Is love really important in a relationship? ›
When you feel loved in a romantic sense, you feel less pressure, less alone, less anxiety, more secure, more confident, and more important. Deep love gives you poise and strength. If you are loved, you feel secure in your relationship. Security allows you to argue without fear.
How important is love making in a relationship? ›
Recap. Sex can have a variety of benefits. It can help support healthy relationships and may improve overall well-being. It is also linked to individual benefits including stress relief, improved sleep, increased immunity, and better cardiac health.
