[ro.mance] n [ME romauns, fr. OF romans French, something written in French, fr. L romanice in the Roman manner, fr. romanicus Roman, fr. Romanus] (14c) 1 a (1): a medieval tale based on legend, chivalric love and adventure, or the supernatural (2): a prose narrative treating imaginary characters involved in events remote in time or place and usu. heroic, adventurous, or mysterious (3): a love story b: a class of such literature
2: something (as an extravagant story or account) that lacks basis in fact
3: an emotional attraction or aura belonging to an esp. heroic era, adventure, or activity
4: love affair
5. cap: the Romance languages
[2]romance vb ro.manced ; ro.manc.ing vi (1671) 1: to exaggerate or invent detail or incident
2: to entertain romantic thoughts or ideas ~ vt 1: to try to influence or curry favor with esp. by lavishing personal attention, gifts, or flattery
2: to carry on a love affair with [3]romance n (ca. 1854): a short instrumental piece in ballad style Ro.mance adj (1690): of, relating to, or being any of several languages developed from Latin (as Italian, French, and Spanish)