See Also: valentine(dictionary)
Valentine(medicine)
Valentine's Day(dictionary)
valentine(dictionary)
Valentine's Day(encyclopedia)
Flood, Valentine(medicine)
Valentine Smoothies(recipes)
Saint Valentine's Day(dictionary)
Valentine (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
Valentine's test(medicine)

valentine (iou)



valentine noun & verb. LME.
[Old & mod. French Valentin from Latin Valentinus name of either of two Italian saints whose festival falls on 14 February.]
A. noun.
St Valentine's day, Valentine's day, 14 February (traditionally associated with the choosing of sweethearts and the mating of birds). St Valentine's eve (arch.), the eve of St Valentine's day. LME.
A person chosen (formerly also drawn by lot) on St Valentine's day, as a sweetheart or special friend. LME.
O. Nash No thrill of premonition..Foreshadowed the appearance Of my only valentine.
b. God or one of the Saints chosen as a patron by a worshipper. LME-M17.
a. A folded paper bearing the name of a person to be drawn as a valentine. M16-L18.
b. A gift sent to one's chosen sweetheart or friend on St Valentine's day. Now chiefly US. E17.
c. A letter or (now esp.) a card, usu. with verses or other words of a romantic or light-hearted nature, sent (often anonymously) on St Valentine's day as a token of love or affection. Also valentine card. E19.
b. verb.
verb trans. & intrans. Of a bird: sing to (a mate). poet. rare. M19.
verb intrans. Of children: go from house to house on St Valentine's Day soliciting small gifts. Chiefly as valentining verbal noun. dial. M19.