Love According to Webster

With St. Valentine’s Day, just a few days away, many people are thinking about love. I was wondering how today’s Webster dictionary definition of “love” might compare to that which Noah Webster first entered into his dictionary. It’s interesting looking into the past and seeing how similar and different our present world is.
“Love” according to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary:
LOVE, v.t. luv. [L. libeo, lubeo. See Lief. The sense is probably to be prompt, free, willing, from leaning, advancing, or drawing forward.]
1. In a general sense to be pleased with; to regard with affection, on account of some qualities which excite pleasing sensations or desire of gratification. We love a friend, on account of some qualities which give us pleasure in his society. We love a man who has done us a favor; in which case, gratitude enters into the composition of our affection. We love our parents and our children, on account of their connection with us, and on account of many qualities which please us. We love to retire to a cool shade in summer. We love a warm room in winter. we love to hear an eloquent advocate. The christian loves his Bible. In short, we love whatever gives us pleasure and delight, whether animal or intellectual; and if our hearts are right, we love God above all things, as the sum of all excellence and all the attributes which can communicate happiness to intelligent beings. In other words, the christian loves God with the love of complacency in his attributes, the love of benevolence towards the interest of his kingdom, and the love of gratitude for favors received.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind -
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Matt. 22.
2. To have benevolence or good will for. John 3.
LOVE, n.
1. An affection of the mind excited by beauty and worth of any kind, or by the qualities of an object which communicate pleasure, sensual or intellectual. It is opposed to hatred. Love between the sexes, is a compound affection, consisting of esteem, benevolence, and animal desire. Love is excited by pleasing qualities of any kind, as by kindness, benevolence, charity, and by the qualities which render social intercourse agreeable. In the latter case, love is ardent friendship, or a strong attachment springing from good will and esteem, and the pleasure derived from the company, civilities and kindness of others.
Between certain natural relatives, love seems to be in some cases instinctive. Such is the love of a mother for her child, which manifests itself toward an infant, before any particular qualities in the child are unfolded. This affection is apparently as strong in irrational animals as in human beings.
We speak of the love of amusements, the love of books, the love of money, and the love of whatever contributes to our pleasure or supposed profit.
The love of God is the first duty of man, and this springs from just views of his attributes or excellencies of character, which afford the highest delight to the sanctified heart. Esteem and reverence constitute ingredients in this affection, and a fear of offending him is its inseparable effect.
2. Courtship; chiefly in the phrase, to make love, that is, to court; to woo; to solicit union in marriage.
3. Patriotism; the attachment one has to his native land; as the love of country.
4. Benevolence; good will.
God is love. 1John 4.
5. The object beloved.
The lover and the love of human kind.
6. A word of endearment.
Trust me, love.
7. Picturesque representation of love.
Such was his form as painters, when they show their utmost art, on naked loves bestow.
8. Lewdness.
He is not lolling on a lewd love-bed.
9. A thin silk stuff. Obs.
Love in idleness, a kind of violet.
Free of love, a plant of the genus Cercis.

“Love” according to Webster’s New World Dictionary:
love [luv]
n.
ME < OE lufu, akin to OHG luba, Goth lubo < IE base * leubh-, to be fond of, desire > LIBIDO, LIEF, LUST
1. a deep and tender feeling of affection for or attachment or devotion to a person or persons
2. an expression of one's love or affection [give Mary my love]
3. a feeling of brotherhood and good will toward other people
4.
a) strong liking for or interest in something [a love of music]
b) the object of such liking
5.
a) a strong, usually passionate, affection of one person for another, based in part on sexual attraction
b) the person who is the object of such an affection; sweetheart; lover
6.
a) sexual passion
b) sexual intercourse
7. < phr. play for love, i.e., play for nothing Tennis a score of zero
8. Theol.
a) God's tender regard and concern for all human beings
b) devotion to and desire for God as the supreme good, that all human beings have
9. [L-] Myth.
a) Cupid, or Eros, as the god of love
b) Rare Venus
vt.
loved, loving
1. to feel love for
2. to show love for by embracing, fondling, kissing, etc.
3. to delight in; take pleasure in [to love books]
4. to gain benefit from [a plant that loves shade]
vi.
to feel the emotion of love; be in love
— fall in love with or fall in love
to begin to feel love (for)
— for love
as a favor or for pleasure; without payment
— for the love of
for the sake of; with loving regard for
— in love
feeling love; enamored
— make love
1. to woo or embrace, kiss, etc. as lovers do
2. to have sexual intercourse
— no love lost between
no liking or affection existing between
— not for love or money
not under any conditions