valentine

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A card or message sent to someone you love on Saint Valentine's Day.

   She sent him a valentine signed with a red heart.

2. 2
   noun

   A person you love or choose as your sweetheart, especially on Saint Valentine's Day.

   Will you be my valentine?

Simplified etymology

Valentine comes from the name borne by two early Italian martyrs whose feasts were celebrated on St Valentine’s Day, 14 February. The day became associated with lovers in the Middle Ages, perhaps because of an old belief that birds mate on that date, or perhaps as a survival of the pagan fertility festival of Lupercalia, celebrated on 15 February.

From Latin Valentīnus, a patronymic from Valēns (Roman cognomen), itself nominalized from vālens (“strong, healthy”) + -īnus (“-ine”). Doublet of Valentinus, Valentino, Valentina, and Valentini.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary