love-knotn.
/ˈlʌvnɒt/, U.S. /ˈləvˌnɑt/ 1. figurative and in allusive use. Something that constitutes or maintains a union based on love; a tie or bond of love. Also: an intricate pattern or layout resembling a love-knot (in sense 2).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > amorous love > [noun] > fetters of love
love benda1300
love-lacec1330
love-knotc1400
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Vesp.) (1873) C. xviii. l. 127 A loue-knotte [c1400 Huntingdon 137 And loue a knotte of leaute and of leel by-leyue].
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. vi. sig. Ll7v If it were a bondage, it was a bondage onely knitte in loue-knots.
c1600 F. Davison in E. Farr Sel. Poetry Reign Elizabeth (1845) II. 328 Where this love-knot remaines vnbroken, God heapes of blisse doth send.
1677 A. Wentworth Vindic. Anne Wentworth 12 Then was the full communion between Christ and my Soul, the Love knot, the comly bands of Marriage.
1764 J. Hall-Stevenson Pastoral Puke 29 There is not one..That does not..Hang on each Blemish a Love-knot.
1835 H. Alford School of Heart 86 Death the firmest love-knot rends.
1856 E. B. Browning Aurora Leigh vii. 297 'Tis pretty, to remark How women can love women of your sort, And tie their hearts with love-knots to your feet.
1915 Atlanta (Georgia) Constit. 29 Jan. 6/3 The hearts of your friends in a loveknot of life.
1954 Sunday Jrnl. & Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) 2 May d3/8 American scientist on Danish jaunt gets self involved in Red plots, love knots.
2000 J. Griffiths Grip on Thin Air 23 The scarlet-edged Loops and loveknots of motorway.
2. literal. A complex, ornamental knot considered to be a symbol of true love and used as a love-token; a representation of such a knot. See true-love knot n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > amorous love > [noun] > love-token or love-gift > ribbon worn as love-token > knot or bow of ribbon used as love-token
true lovec1400
love-knotc1405
true-love knot1496
amoretc1500
lover's knot1565
true lover's knot1577
loving knota1596
c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 197 He hadde of gold wroght a ful curious pyn A loue knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
1598 J. Marston Certaine Satyres in Metamorph. Pigmalions Image 54 His windowes strow'd with Sonnets, and the glasse Drawne full of loue-knots.
1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island xii. lxxxiv. 179 Within their circlets hundred Graces set, And with love-knots their comely hangings deck.
1672 E. Ashmole Inst. Order of Garter iii. 102 Cordons of White Silk, woven into Loveknots, interlaced with the Letters S and R.
1709 C. Cibber Rival Fools iv. 48 Cun...What were the tokens? Sim. A Love-Knot and a Diamond, Sir.
1789 E. Darwin Bot. Garden: Pt. II iv. 140 Shepherd-swains..On each smooth bark in mystic love-knots frame..the favour'd name.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Talking Oak xvii, in Poems (new ed.) II. 68 Leg and arm with love-knots gay.
1877 W. Jones Finger-ring Lore 371 The circular box on the top..contains a sort of love-knot.
1931 R. P. Tristram Portrait of Amer. xvi. 101 Children..stumbled with their pens over the names and loveknots their grandparents had carved in the worn desks.
1962 V. A. Lamar Life & Lett. in Tudor & Stuart Eng. 425 (caption) Notice the loveknots on her sleeve and at the edge of her bodice.
1992 D. Allison Bastard out of Carolina iv. 41 The sisters sent Mama a wedding present, a love knot Marvella had made using some of her own hair.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c1400