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. 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

Valentine

²

/ ˈvælənˌtaɪn /

noun

1. Saint. 3rd century _ad , Christian martyr, associated by historical accident with the custom of sending valentines; bishop of Terni. Feast day: Feb 14

Word History and Origins

Origin of valentine¹

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

Example Sentences

Instead, a good 50% of the tracks retreat to safer ground - slowly strummed songs of devotion, packed with valentine card sentiments.

Read more on BBC

As the group’s musical valentine to their American rock ‘n’ roll roots, “Rubber Soul” begins, pointedly, with the ear-catching flourish of George Harrison’s bluesy guitar, which kick-starts “Drive My Car” into life.

Read more on Salon

Like the letter itself, the score is part valentine, part elegy—and John put his heart into it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Amélie” has been hailed as a valentine to Paris, but what makes Jeunet’s wizardry so ill-suited to that tribute is the whole tradition of French film which located the enchantment of Paris in real settings.

Read more on Salon

As Violet gathers the courage to give it to her, the valentine ends up trampled in the snow.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

When To Use

What is a valentine?

A valentine is a card or gift given to someone for the occasion of Valentine’s Day, a holiday on February 14 that’s popularly observed as a day to celebrate love, especially by those in romantic relationships.Valentines are often intended as a declaration of love, but they can also be given as a gesture of friendship. Valentines are commonly exchanged by romantic partners, or given by someone who wants to show affection to or romantic interest in the recipient. But they can also be exchanged by family members and friends—children might make valentines for their parents and school students sometimes give valentines to all of their fellow classmates, for example.The classic version of a valentine is a card shaped like a heart, but they can come in many forms. Valentine messages can be serious or humorous or silly.The word valentine can also refer to the person to whom a valentine is given (or the person who gives it), or to a person’s date or romantic partner on Valentine’s Day. Asking someone to be your valentine typically conveys romantic interest—it most commonly means you want them to be your date for Valentine’s Day. However, this is not always the case.The term Valentine’s (or Valentines) is a short way of referring to Valentine’s Day, as in Do you have plans for Valentine’s yet?Valentine is also the name of a Christian saint whose feast day is observed on February 14. The name of Valentine’s Day can be traced back to this observance, though it may have also been influenced by another saint named Valentine.Example: I always send valentines anonymously—I just want to make people happy, without any obligation.