amorous

adjective

am·​o·​rous ˈa-mə-rəs How to pronounce amorous (audio)
ˈam-rəs
1
: strongly moved by love and especially sexual love
amorous couples
2
: being in love : enamored
usually used with of
amorous of the girl
3
a
: indicative of love
received amorous glances from her partner
b
: of or relating to love
an amorous novel
amorously adverb
amorousness noun

Examples of amorous in a Sentence

Vickers has now turned his formidable powers to "A Lover's Complaint". This 329-line amorous oration was published with the Sonnets in 1609, though it is probably little read even by those for whom the sonnets are a form of poetic oxygen. Harold Love, Times Literary Supplement, 6 July 2007
The first commercial valentines were produced in the U.S. in 1834 by one Robert H. Elton, and the custom of sending greeting cards with amorous messages has persisted. Phillip Lopate, Wigwag, February 1990
His amorous affairs he flaunted as if they were masterpieces, and he invited his marital partner to share in the esthetic experience. John Updike, New York Times Book Review, 29 Mar. 1987
He has an amorous nature. male birds engage in amorous behavior—nest-building, singing, showing off their finery—in order to attract females
Recent Examples on the Web Black drum fish tend to mate—and fill the sea with their amorous racket—on winter nights, which might explain the uptick in noise residents hear around this time of year. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2024 Moving on to the gallery of titillation is a room full of amorous encounters that when originally created were presented as mythological moments. Gaile Robinson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024 His second stint as the country’s prime minister is proving far less amorous. Rob Picheta, CNN, 27 Jan. 2024 It was protected by a drop near its entrance exceeding two hundred feet: amorous teen-agers, or foxes or weasels looking for shelter, couldn’t stray in. D. T. Max, The New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2024 Her warm, even tone and clear diction became associated indelibly with the composer’s amorous page in the way that Kirsten Flagstad was with Isolde and Feodor Chaliapin with Boris Godunov. Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2023 That little-film-that-could put Haigh on the map and secured a spot in the gay cinematic canon for its starkly visceral portrayal of the initially awkward and ultimately amorous connection between two lonesome Englishmen. Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 21 Dec. 2023 Mario is on his usual mission to rescue Peach from Bowser’s amorous claws when a giant, talking sword crashes through the castle and sends all three flying. WIRED, 15 Nov. 2023 Getty Images While Kennebunkport is charming year-round, February brings a month-long celebration of love, transforming this coastal town into an amorous wonderland for its Paint the Town Red celebration. Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 15 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'amorous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English amorous, amerous, borrowed from Anglo-French amerous, amerus, amorous (continental Old French amoreus, amorous), going back to Vulgar Latin *amōrōsus, from Latin amōr-, amor "love" + -ōsus -ous — more at amour

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of amorous was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near amorous

Cite this Entry

“Amorous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amorous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

amorous

adjective
am·​o·​rous ˈam-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce amorous (audio)
1
: tending to love : easily falling in love
an amorous nature
2
: of, relating to, or caused by love
an amorous glance
amorously adverb
amorousness noun
Etymology

Middle English amorous "moved by love," from early French amorous (same meaning), derived from Latin amare "to love" — related to amateur

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