Ro*mance" (?), n. [OE. romance,
romant, romaunt, OF. romanz, romans,
romant, roman, F. roman, romance, fr. LL.
Romanice in the Roman language, in the vulgar tongue, i.
e., in the vulgar language which sprang from Latin, the language
of the Romans, and hence applied to fictitious compositions written in
this vulgar tongue; fr. L. Romanicus Roman, fr. Romanus.
See Roman, and cf. Romanic, Romaunt,
Romansch, Romanza.] 1. A species of
fictitious writing, originally composed in meter in the Romance
dialects, and afterward in prose, such as the tales of the court of
Arthur, and of Amadis of Gaul; hence, any fictitious and wonderful
tale; a sort of novel, especially one which treats of surprising
adventures usually befalling a hero or a heroine; a tale of
extravagant adventures, of love, and the like. "Romances
that been royal." Chaucer.
Upon these three columns -- chivalry, gallantry, and
religion -- repose the fictions of the Middle Ages, especially those
known as romances. These, such as we now know them, and such as
display the characteristics above mentioned, were originally metrical,
and chiefly written by nations of the north of France.
Hallam.
2. An adventure, or series of extraordinary
events, resembling those narrated in romances; as, his courtship, or
his life, was a romance.
3. A dreamy, imaginative habit of mind; a
disposition to ignore what is real; as, a girl full of
romance.
4. The languages, or rather the several
dialects, which were originally forms of popular or vulgar Latin, and
have now developed into Italian. Spanish, French, etc. (called the
Romanic languages).
5. (Mus.) A short lyric tale set to
music; a song or short instrumental piece in ballad style; a
romanza.
Syn. -- Fable; novel; fiction; tale.
Ro*mance", a. Of or pertaining to
the language or dialects known as Romance.
Ro*mance", v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Romanced (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Romancing (?).] To write or tell romances; to indulge in
extravagant stories.
A very brave officer, but apt to
romance.
Walpole.
Ro*mance" (?), n. [OE. romance,
romant, romaunt, OF. romanz, romans,
romant, roman, F. roman, romance, fr. LL.
Romanice in the Roman language, in the vulgar tongue, i.
e., in the vulgar language which sprang from Latin, the language
of the Romans, and hence applied to fictitious compositions written in
this vulgar tongue; fr. L. Romanicus Roman, fr. Romanus.
See Roman, and cf. Romanic, Romaunt,
Romansch, Romanza.] 1. A species of
fictitious writing, originally composed in meter in the Romance
dialects, and afterward in prose, such as the tales of the court of
Arthur, and of Amadis of Gaul; hence, any fictitious and wonderful
tale; a sort of novel, especially one which treats of surprising
adventures usually befalling a hero or a heroine; a tale of
extravagant adventures, of love, and the like. "Romances
that been royal." Chaucer.
Upon these three columns -- chivalry, gallantry, and
religion -- repose the fictions of the Middle Ages, especially those
known as romances. These, such as we now know them, and such as
display the characteristics above mentioned, were originally metrical,
and chiefly written by nations of the north of France.
Hallam.
2. An adventure, or series of extraordinary
events, resembling those narrated in romances; as, his courtship, or
his life, was a romance.
3. A dreamy, imaginative habit of mind; a
disposition to ignore what is real; as, a girl full of
romance.
4. The languages, or rather the several
dialects, which were originally forms of popular or vulgar Latin, and
have now developed into Italian. Spanish, French, etc. (called the
Romanic languages).
5. (Mus.) A short lyric tale set to
music; a song or short instrumental piece in ballad style; a
romanza.
Syn. -- Fable; novel; fiction; tale.
Ro*mance", a. Of or pertaining to
the language or dialects known as Romance.
Ro*mance", v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Romanced (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Romancing (?).] To write or tell romances; to indulge in
extravagant stories.
A very brave officer, but apt to
romance.
Walpole.
