lover

¹

[ luhv-er ]

noun

1. a person who is in love with another.
2. a person who has a sexual or romantic relationship with another.
3. a person with whom one conducts an extramarital sexual affair.
4. a person who has a strong enjoyment or liking for something, as specified:

   a lover of music.

   Synonyms: fan, enthusiast, devotee

5. a person who loves, especially a person who has or shows a warm and general affectionate regard for others:

   a lover of humankind.

Lover

²

[ luhv-er ]

noun

1. Samuel, 1797–1868, Irish novelist, painter, and songwriter.

lover

/ ˈlʌvə /

noun

1. a person, now esp a man, who has an extramarital or premarital sexual relationship with another person
2. often plural either of the two people involved in a love affair
3. 1. someone who loves a specified person or thing

      a lover of music

   2. ( in combination )

      a cat-lover

      a music-lover

Other Words From

• lover·less adjective
• lover·like adjective
• non·lover noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lover¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English; love + -er ¹

Example Sentences

This same outlet worked the phrase “engagement to toyboy lover” into the headline of their article on Fry.

From The Daily Beast

But there are a lot of women who go to these places and once they go to the inside, they find a lover.

From The Daily Beast

He was a great lover of the navy, and he liked me because of it.

From The Daily Beast

I have to confess, I had no idea that Whitney had a rumored gay lover before reading about your role in this movie.

From The Daily Beast

“The golden bridge for the departing lover I have always, I hope, provided when it became necessary,” he says.

From The Daily Beast

The pictures of flowers which this artist paints prove her to be a devoted lover of nature.

From Project Gutenberg

Felipe watched over her as a lover might; her great mournful eyes followed his every motion.

From Project Gutenberg

Gordon, however, had never been a lover, and if Bernard noted Angela's gravity it was not because he felt jealous.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a further refinement when the staunch little lover of liberty sets about "easing" the pressure of commands.

From Project Gutenberg

Several times during dinner I glanced at Ethne, but it was easy to see that all her attention was taken up by her lover.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• admirer
• boyfriend
• companion
• girlfriend
• suitor
• sweetheart