| 释义 |
light of love, light o' love
Also 6 light a love, lightilove.
[See light a.1 16.]
1. As predicative phr.: Inconstant in love.
1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 89 Ah wretched wench, canst thou be so lyght of loue, as to chaunge with euery winde? 1592R. Hyrde tr. Vives' Instruct. Chr. Woman N j, And if he should mary her, he wil thinke shee will have as good mind to other, as himselfe, when she is so light of love.
2. As n.
†a. Inconstancy in love. Obs.
1578T. Proctor Gorg. Gallery E iij b, The fickle are blamed: Their lightiloue shamed.
b. A woman capricious or inconstant in love; also, in more unfavourable sense, a wanton, a harlot.
1599Porter Angry Wom. Abingt. (Percy Soc.) 35 Foule strumpet, Light a loue, shorte heeles! 1618Fletcher Chances i. iii, Sure he has encountered Some light-o-love or other. 1828Scott F.M. Perth xxi, You and I must part sooner than perhaps a light o' love such as you expected to part with—a likely young fellow. 1892J. Payn Mod. Whittington II. 167 ‘My Kitty a light-o'-love—a trollop—’ and the wretched father burst into tears.
attrib.1589Nashe Anat. Absurditie A ij, As there was a loyall Lucretia, so there was a light a loue Lais. 1592Greene Upst. Courtier B 2 b, To warne such light a loue wenches, not to trust euery faire promise that such amorous Batchelers make them. 1843James Forest Days (1847) 25 Following..his light-o'-love sweetheart to the dance.
†3. The name of an old dance-tune. Obs.
1591Shakes. Two Gent. i. ii. 83. 1599 ― Much Ado iii. iv. 44. 1612 Two Noble K. v. iv. |