Romance \Ro*mance"\, n. [OE. romance, romant, romaunt, OF. romanz, romans, romant, roman, F. roman, romance, fr. LL. Romanice in the Roman language, in the vulgar tongue, i. e., in the vulgar language which sprang from Latin, the language of the Romans, and hence applied to fictitious compositions written in this vulgar tongue; fr. L. Romanicus Roman, fr. Romanus. See {Roman}, and cf. {Romanic}, {Romaunt}, {Romansch}, {Romanza}.] 1. A species of fictitious writing, originally composed in meter in the Romance dialects, and afterward in prose, such as the tales of the court of Arthur, and of Amadis of Gaul; hence, any fictitious and wonderful tale; a sort of novel, especially one which treats of surprising adventures usually befalling a hero or a heroine; a tale of extravagant adventures, of love, and the like. ``Romances that been royal.'' --Chaucer.
Upon these three columns -- chivalry, gallantry, and religion -- repose the fictions of the Middle Ages, especially those known as romances. These, such as we now know them, and such as display the characteristics above mentioned, were originally metrical, and chiefly written by nations of the north of France. --Hallam.
2. An adventure, or series of extraordinary events, resembling those narrated in romances; as, his courtship, or his life, was a romance.
3. A dreamy, imaginative habit of mind; a disposition to ignore what is real; as, a girl full of romance.
4. The languages, or rather the several dialects, which were originally forms of popular or vulgar Latin, and have now developed into Italian. Spanish, French, etc. (called the Romanic languages).
5. (Mus.) A short lyric tale set to music; a song or short instrumental piece in ballad style; a romanza.
6. a love affair, esp. one in which the lovers display their deep affection openly, by romantic gestures. [PJC]
Syn: Fable; novel; fiction; tale.
Romance \Ro*mance"\, a. Of or pertaining to the language or dialects known as Romance.
Romance \Ro*mance"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Romanced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Romancing}.] To write or tell romances; to indulge in extravagant stories.
A very brave officer, but apt to romance. --Walpole.
The couple agreed to accept $75,000 from the nationally syndicated "A Current Affair" to talk about their romance on the air.
At the same time, Japan throws up many roadblocks to romance.
At the outset of the campaign, Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey was touted as Hollywood's leading man for 1992, in part because of his onetime romance with actress Debra Winger.
She stopped and said, "Oh, you have nice flags," and the romance blossomed from there.
"The romance with Anthony will be prickly, just like in real life.
Miss Lockwood, 24, a former fashion model, became engaged to Althorp in July following a six-week romance.
Not even the balm of syrupy romance was on offer. Painted Heart is at least restful, if you forget the moment the hero cuts his forearm to prove his love.
A counselor, concluding that man and wife were bored, told her to fix herself up (she was dowdy) and told him to add romance to the relationship. Candlelight dinners and flowers were part of the prescription.
For Novak, businesspeople are motivated not merely by a desire to make profits but by the 'romance and risk of enterprise'.
Historical romance is a narrow genre: plenty of room for fabulous characters and plot twists, but not much for subtext.
So are all of them." Neighborhood attitudes are writ large in the graffiti of romance and racism.
"Mao II" is crowded with ideas, mixing terrorism, cults, the romance of news and the failing power of words.
Equally, its charm makes Echikatsu good for romance. Ask your hotel or secretary to book a room facing the garden and to get Echikatsu to fax you a map.
Mostly, the opera is a fairly bloodless romance into which Mr. Moshinsky failed to inject any tension or even humor.
The picture is especially sly on the subject of romance and tenderness.
The announcement of their pending nuptials three weeks ago evoked surprise that two of a small state's most prominent political figures could have kept a romance of nearly a decade relatively private.
Perhaps this film simply represents a yearning for a simpler time, before the ugly reality of AIDS took the romance out of dying young.
'But,' he cautions, 'although the romance is a bonus it is the quality that sells the product.
They've known each other for six or seven years, but romance flowered between runs one night in Hibbing.
While a minority found succour in the romance of the besieged volk in its laager, most longed to be rid of the burden of being an international pariah. It could not come at a better time.
But it's the romance of the dime novel and matinee that's the long suit for now.
Bemco is the wholesaler and it will be happy to give details of local stockists (tel: 081-874 0404). Those hankering for a bit Somerset Maugham-style colonial romance might look at colonial-style ceiling fans with brass bodies and rattan blades.
After his rendezvous with Ms. Wonderful turns sour, Jerry analyzes romance: "Women know what men want.
Ex-model Rasheeda Moore testified today that she and Mayor Marion Barry used drugs "over 100 times" _ sometimes more than once a day _ during a three-year romance.
At night the city still has a romance that has been killed in most west European cities.
But for those of courting age, Noel means romance.
But friends say she was devastated when her romance with a handsome young farmer broke up.
Murka apparently found both adventure and romance during her yearlong journey.
ACCORDING to the magazine Men's Wear in 1935: 'Underwear should have the grace of Apollo, the romance of Byron, the distinction of Lord Chesterfield and the ease, coolness and comfort of Mahatma Gandhi.'
There was retrospective romance in gold guipure-incrusted jackets with satin skirts, in fitted velvet bodices over full lacquered tulle or lame-flowered skirts, in romantic lace dresses in shades of orange, toast and pearl gray.