Word: romantic Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Etymology tree Latin Rōma Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Italic *-nos Latin -nus Latin -ānus Latin Rōmānus Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icus Latin rōmānicus Latin -ē Vulgar Latin rōmānicē Old French romanz Old French romauntder. English romant ▲ Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English romantic From romant + -ic, or borrowed from Late Latin romanticus (“(of a poem) having qualities of a romance”). Compare French romantique, which is borrowed from English. Also compare Spanish romántico, Portuguese romântico, Italian romantico, Dutch romantisch, and German romantisch and Romantiker (“a composer of Romantic music”), all of which are borrowed from English or French. Pronunciation: /ɹə(ʊ)ˈmæntɪk/, /ɹoʊˈmæn(t)ɪk/, [ɹə-], [-mæɾ̃ɪk], [-meə̯ntɪk] 1. Of a work of literature, a writer etc.: being like or having the characteristics of a romance, or poetic tale of a mythic or quasi-historical time; fantastic. Labels: historical 2. Fictitious, imaginary. Labels: obsolete 3. Fantastic, unrealistic (of an idea etc.); fanciful, sentimental, impractical (of a person). Example: Mary sighed, knowing her ideals were far too romantic to work in reality. Example: R. Jeeves: In my experience, ladies who spell Gladys with a W are seldom noted for their reliability, sir. It gives them romantic notions. B.W. Wooster: With a W, Jeeves? No, no, no, no. You spell it with a G. R. Jeeves: If I might draw your attention to the signature on the portrait, sir. B.W. Wooster: Good Lord! G-W? R. Jeeves: I blame Alfred Lord Tennyson and his Idylls of the King. It also accounts for Kathryn, Ysabel, and Ethyl, all spelt with a Y, but Gwladys is a particularly virulent form, sir. 4. Having the qualities of romance (in the sense of something appealing deeply to the imagination); invoking on a powerfully sentimental idea of life; evocative, atmospheric. Example: But here is an artist. He desires to paint you the dreamiest, shadiest, quietest, most enchanting bit of romantic landscape in all the valley of the Saco. Example: Somehow she wasn't a real sister, but that only made her the more romantic. 5. Pertaining to an idealised form of love (originally, as might be felt by the heroes of a romance); conducive to romance; loving, affectionate. Example: Their kiss started casually, but it slowly turned romantic. Example: Contrary to the popular perception that love typically sparks from passion, a new study finds two-thirds of romantic relationships begin as long-term friendships. 6. Alternative letter-case form of Romantic Labels: alt-of 7. Experiencing romantic attraction. Example: Elsewhere, I describe that, in addition to an asexual identity, another salient identity for asexual individuals may be a romantic or aromantic identity, which designates an interest (or lack thereof) in monogamous, intimate relationships (Scherrer, 2008). Example: What is relatively “new” is the formation of communities around the common language of asexuality as it is understood today—communities in which new categories exist around the concept of asexuality or “being ace,” where people can discuss romantic or aromantic orientations in relation to or apart from sexual desires or non-desires.