By Brian Boone
It’s February, so that means it’s time for Valentine’s Day, when the thoughts of many turn to those of love. There are lots of ways to say “I love you” or talk about the many nuances of romance and passion, throughout history and around the world. Can you figure out the obscure, archaic, and little-known love words we’re talking about in the quiz below? (Answers are at the end, lovelies.)
Results
Looks like you need to brush up on your vocabulary-based trivia!
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#1. The 14th century English word "mitting" is comparable to what modern word or phrase?
#2. The Norwegian word "forelsket" refers specifically to which common stage of love?
#3. There are six words in the Ancient Greek language to describe different types of love. Which one refers to a playful flirtation?
C) Ludus. The other five types of love, per Ancient Greek are eros (carnal passion), philia (profound friendship), pragma (mature, partnership love), agape (love for humanity), and philautia (self-love).
#4. The 12th century word "swain" means what kind of guy?
B) Swain comes from the word swein, or servant, because a loyal lover is a servant of romance.
#5. Which of the following very similar words isn’t a term from the 1400s and 1500s that means the same thing as “a kiss”?
#6. Late 13th-century English author Geoffrey Chaucer introduced which now archaic term of endearment in “The Miller’s Tale,” a story in his landmark The Canterbury Tales?
B) And yes, Chaucer got it from “cinnamon.”