What is Love?

Perry Winkle · 02-12-2007, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

aside, would smitten be derived from smite? Way different meaning.

Smitten is an inflected form of smite. Which is from the Old English word for "smear or defile."

xoxoxoBruce · 02-12-2007, 08:02 PM

That's nuts, looking at 19 dictionaries, probably 2/3 of them have the first definition of smitten one I'd never heard.

I'd only seen, and used, smitten as meaning, "to impress favorably; charm; enamor", or, "having suddenly started to like or love something or someone very much".
Until my last post here, I'd never made the connection between smite and smitten. Learn something new every day.

Perry Winkle · 02-12-2007, 08:52 PM

Now I'm wondering if there's a connection between kite and kitten...hrm...

9th Engineer · 02-20-2007, 02:36 PM

Love has two components, behavior and emotion. As an emotion,...well hell, how is anyone supposed to define something that everyone claims is their own and no one else's? As a behavior love is chemistry, and is ruled be regions of the brain very close to those involved in addiction. Actually, scans of a heartbroken lover's brain will reveal patterns nearly identical to someone in drug withdrawal. Go figure. Scent has a great deal to do with this. Case in point, a recent study showed that a very high proportion of women smell the clothing of their husband/boyfriend during periods of separation.
I'm not trying to downplay the emotional side, but isn't something with a huge number of equally correct definition undefinable? As such it's kind of a silly question, sort of like "what is inside this black box that you cannot open, touch, smell or listen to?".

View Poll Results: What is Love?
Love is a verb, manifest in actions.	18	37.50%
Love is a noun, a tangible or intangible thing.	8	16.67%
Love is service, to another.	11	22.92%
Love is a feeling, wheeee!	16	33.33%
Love is an illusion, booo!	4	8.33%
Love is brain chemistry, or other chemistry.	14	29.17%
Love isn't anything, or anything on this list. (Write in.)	6	12.50%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll

02-12-2007, 08:02 PM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	That's nuts, looking at 19 dictionaries, probably 2/3 of them have the first definition of smitten one I'd never heard. I'd only seen, and used, smitten as meaning, "to impress favorably; charm; enamor", or, "having suddenly started to like or love something or someone very much". Until my last post here, I'd never made the connection between smite and smitten. Learn something new every day. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

02-20-2007, 02:36 PM	#4
9th Engineer Bioengineer and aspiring lawer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 872	Love has two components, behavior and emotion. As an emotion,...well hell, how is anyone supposed to define something that everyone claims is their own and no one else's? As a behavior love is chemistry, and is ruled be regions of the brain very close to those involved in addiction. Actually, scans of a heartbroken lover's brain will reveal patterns nearly identical to someone in drug withdrawal. Go figure. Scent has a great deal to do with this. Case in point, a recent study showed that a very high proportion of women smell the clothing of their husband/boyfriend during periods of separation. I'm not trying to downplay the emotional side, but isn't something with a huge number of equally correct definition undefinable? As such it's kind of a silly question, sort of like "what is inside this black box that you cannot open, touch, smell or listen to?". __________________ The most valuable renewable resource is stupidity.

02-12-2007, 08:52 PM	#3
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	Now I'm wondering if there's a connection between kite and kitten...hrm...

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