limerence

American  

[li-mer-uhns] / ˈlɪ mɛr əns /

Or limerance

noun

1. the state of being obsessively infatuated with someone, usually accompanied by delusions of or a desire for an intense romantic relationship with that person.

   Her limerence lasted for around three months before she actually met him.

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limerence British  

/ ˈlɪmɪrəns /

noun

1. psychol a state of mind resulting from romantic attraction, characterized by feelings of euphoria, the desire to have one's feelings reciprocated, etc

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Usage

What is limerence? Limerence is a state of deep infatuation or romantic desire for someone, as in Rudy’s feelings for the pop star were limerence, not love, because he didn’t even know the star.Someone who is experiencing limerence is usually obsessive or intensely infatuated with someone else. Often, the object of a person’s limerence does not share the feelings and, as a result, the person may experience delusions or unreasonable desire for a romantic relationship with the person they feel limerence toward. Example: The limerence they experienced was palpable in the room.

Other Word Forms

• limerent adjective

Etymology

Origin of limerence

Arbitrary coinage by Dorothy Tennov, U.S. psychologist (1928-2007) in her book Love and Limerence: The Experience of Being in Love

Example Sentences

The storytelling quality of the genre influenced debut album In Limerence, which discusses failed romantic relationships.

From BBC

The storytelling quality of the music influenced their debut album, In Limerence, which went on to secure a place on the Mercury Prize shortlist earlier this year.

From BBC

They released their debut album In Limerence, performed on Later… with Jools Holland, played the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury, and earned a Mercury Prize nomination for Album of the Year.

From BBC

Many people have mistakenly assumed it is a prize for first albums - but this year's shortlist included only two: Jacob Alon's delicate and beautiful In Limerence, and Joe Webb's Hamstrings and Hurricanes, a jazz album partially influenced by Oasis.

From BBC

Scotland's Jacob Alon, meanwhile, is recognised for the heartbreaking gossamer ballads of their debut album, In Limerence.

From BBC