love-tokenn.

OE Beowulf 1863 Sceal hringnaca ofer hea þu [read heafu] bringan lac ond luftacen.

1447 O. Bokenham Lives of Saints (Arun.) (1938) 5498 (MED) Anoyntyd she hath my feet both two..And so many loue tokynnys shewyd to me.

1553 J. Bradford Serm. Repentaunce sig. F.vi Let vs praye him that he would adde to thys, that we mighte beleue these loue tokens.

1594 (a1555) D. Lindsay Hist. Squyer Meldrum 195 in Wks. (1931) I. 151 Than gaif scho him ane Lufe taking, Ane riche Rubie set in ane Ring.

1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream i. i. 29 Thou hast giuen her rimes, And interchang'd loue tokens with my childe. View more context for this quotation

1626 Bp. J. Hall Contempl. VIII. O.T. xx. 177 What Church in the world can show such deare loue-tokens from the Almighty as this?

1655 S. Fisher (title) Love-token for Mourners.

1727 J. Trapp Popery Truly Stated ii. 194 (note) How perfectly loathsome, to us, are the Tales..of the blessed Virgin..presenting [her Worshippers] with Bracelets, and Rings of her Hair, as Love-Tokens?

1790 R. Tyler Contrast ii. ii. 33 What is that, the love-token from the deacon's daughter?

1841 J. H. Newman et al. in Lyra Apost. (ed. 5) 26 Yes! let the fragrant scars abide, Love-tokens in Thy stead.

1877 W. Jones Finger-ring Lore 343 He sent two diamond rings, as love-tokens to Mary, Queen of Scots.

1936 A. R. Burn World of Hesiod iii. 86 Anything that has been in close contact with anyone's person has ‘something of him’ about it. Hence the popularity of handkerchiefs or locks of hair as love-tokens.

1991 Times Educ. Suppl. 15 Feb. 29/2 The book may most suitably be offered as a love-token to one too besotted to be over critical of schmaltz.