Origin and Meaning of Romance

A quality or state of being romantic; a narrative of love or adventure

Origin: Latin - Derived from the Latin word 'romanica', which means 'like a Roman' or 'of the Romans', and evolved in Old French to refer to narratives in the vernacular.

• The term 'romance' originally referred to the vernacular languages that developed from Latin, known as 'Romance languages'.
• In literature, 'romance' has a dual meaning, referring both to romantic love stories and to the medieval narrative genre which includes tales of chivalry and adventure.
• Notable uses of the term include the Romance languages (like Italian, French, Spanish, etc.) and well-known works such as classic romances in literature by authors like Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters.
• As a name, Romance is quite rare but has seen occasional use, particularly in the context of creative and artistic circles.
• Related terms include romantic, romanticism, and romancer, each exploring different aspects of romance and love in various cultural contexts.