limerence

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Alternative forms

Etymology

From arbitrary first element +‎ -ence. Coined by American psychologist Dorothy Tennov in 1979 as an arbitrary euphonious replacement or alteration of amorance.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈlɪməɹəns/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

limerence (countable and uncountable, plural limerences)

  1. (psychology) An involuntary romantic infatuation with another person, especially combined with an overwhelming, obsessive need to have one's feelings reciprocated. [from 20th c.]
    • 1977 September 11, Dorothy Tennov, The Observer:
      I first used the term ‘amorance’ then changed it back to ‘limerence’ […]. It has no roots whatsoever. It looks nice. It works well in French. Take it from me it has no etymology whatsoever.
    • 2003 December 14, Andrew G Marshall, The Observer:
      When someone is under the spell of limerence, not even being rejected dampens down the madness.
    • 2010, Alyson Schafer, Breaking the Good mom Myth:
      But limerence, lovely as it feels, is a time-limited event—it lasts about five years for most couples.
    • 2024 January 27, Amanda McCracken, The New York Times:
      Limerence is a state of overwhelming and unexpected longing for emotional reciprocation from another human, known as a limerent object (LO), who is often perceived as perfect but unavailable.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

See also

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from English limerence.

Noun

limerence f (plural limerences)

  1. (psychology, rare) limerence (state of mind caused by a romantic attraction)
    Synonym: enfatuação