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.
Ro*mance" , a. Of or pertaining to the language or dialects known as 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.
Syn. -- Fable; novel; fiction; tale.
Hear it pronounced