valentine

¹

[ val-uhn-tahyn ]

noun

1. a card or message, usually amatory or sentimental but sometimes satirical or comical, or a token or gift sent by one person to another on Valentine's Day, sometimes anonymously.
2. a sweetheart chosen or greeted on this day.
3. a written or other artistic work, message, token, etc., expressing affection for something or someone:

   His photographic essay is a valentine to Paris.

Valentine

²

[ val-uhn-tahyn ]

noun

1. Saint, died a.d. c270, Christian martyr at Rome.
2. Also pope a.d. 827.
3. a male given name: from a Latin word meaning “strong.”

Valentine

¹

/ ˈvælənˌtaɪn /

noun

1. Valentine, Saint3rd century3rd centuryMItalianRELIGION: clergymanRELIGION: martyrRELIGION: saint Saint. 3rd century ad , Christian martyr, associated by historical accident with the custom of sending valentines; bishop of Terni. Feast day: Feb 14

valentine

²

/ ˈvælənˌtaɪn /

noun

1. a card or gift expressing love or affection, sent, often anonymously, to one's sweetheart or satirically to a friend, on Saint Valentine's Day
2. a sweetheart selected for such a greeting

Word History and Origins

Origin of valentine¹

1400–50; late Middle English, after the feast of Saint Valentine

Example Sentences

When I get older losing my hair/Many years from now/Will you still be sending me a valentine/Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

From The Daily Beast

Actress Ellen Page came out of the closet on Valentine's Day at a Human Rights Campaign conference in Las Vegas.

From The Daily Beast

Your choice to teach love keeps my Valentine safer from hate.

From The Daily Beast

Insert painfully true Netflix binge/Valentine's Day joke here.

From The Daily Beast

The most poignant moment comes when Richard starts crying after imagining he and Adele dancing to “My Funny Valentine.”

From The Daily Beast

But the poem opens with a call from a bird to all other birds, bidding them rejoice at the return of Saint Valentine's day.

From Project Gutenberg

It is true that he dreams about Saint Valentine's day, but that is quite another matter.

From Project Gutenberg

Behind the altar in this chapel is an internationally famous white marble, recumbent "Figure of Lee" which Valentine created.

From Project Gutenberg

So all by coach to my house, where I found my Valentine with my wife, and here they drank, and then went away.

From Project Gutenberg

"Almost the very same thing that you did, monsieur," replied Valentine, despondently.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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