Plural of lover; people who have romantic or sexual relationships with each other. Also refers to people with great enthusiasm for something.
From Old English lufu meaning 'love' plus the agent suffix -er. The word evolved from describing affection to encompassing both romantic partners and passionate enthusiasts by the 13th century.
The word can simultaneously describe romantic partners and passionate hobbyists—'music lovers' or 'nature lovers'—showing how English uses the same intensity of feeling for both human connection and deep interests. Shakespeare alone used the word over 2,000 times, cementing its romantic associations in literature.
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