love-letter

A young woman reads a love-letter by her window.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A written expression of romantic affection: A "love-letter" is a written communication, often a letter or note, in which the sender expresses their deep emotional attachment, admiration, or romantic feelings for the recipient.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He wrote her a long love-letter before he went off to war. (A written expression of romantic affection sent before a separation.)
  • She kept all his love-letters in a box under her bed. (A collection of written romantic communications preserved as mementos.)
  • The poet's most famous work is a love-letter to his wife, published after his death. (A published literary piece expressing romantic feelings.)

Advanced Usage

• "to write a love-letter": to compose a written message of romantic affection.

  • In the age of texting, writing a love-letter feels old-fashioned but deeply personal. (Composing a traditional written romantic message.)

• "love-letter as a metaphor": used figuratively to describe any creative work (e.g., a film, song, or book) that expresses deep admiration for a person, place, or thing.

  • The director's new film is a love-letter to the city of Paris. (The film is a heartfelt tribute or expression of admiration for Paris.)

Variants and Related Words

• Love (n): a strong feeling of deep affection.
  • Their love grew stronger over time. (Deep affection between two people.)
• Letter (n): a written, typed, or printed message sent to someone.
  • I received a letter from my grandmother. (A written message.)
• Love-letter (n): the compound word itself; no other common variants.

Synonyms

• Billet-doux: a French-derived term for a short love-letter.
  • He slipped a billet-doux into her bag. (A short, sweet love-letter.)
• Valentine: a card or message sent on Valentine's Day, often expressing romantic love.
  • She received a handmade valentine from her admirer. (A romantic card or note.)

Related Idioms

• Write a love-letter to something: to create a work that celebrates or praises something deeply.

  • The cookbook is a love-letter to Italian cuisine. (The cookbook is a heartfelt tribute to Italian food.)

• A love-letter in the sand: something beautiful but fleeting or easily erased.

  • Their romance felt like a love-letter in the sand — intense but short-lived. (A temporary or fragile expression of love.)