romance
n. C / Un. a feeling of excitement and mystery related to love. It can also mean a story or a song that focuses on these strong feelings.
n. a quality of excitement, mystery, and remote charm, particularly associated with love or adventure. In a musical context, it refers to a short, lyrical piece with a romantic or sentimental character.
The couple enjoyed the romance of a candlelit dinner.
The composer's latest work is a beautiful romance for violin and piano that captures the spirit of the 19th century.
While the novel was marketed as a simple romance, it actually explored the complex psychological tensions between duty and personal desire in a changing society.
From Old French romanz (“vernacular language (of France)”), from Late Latin rōmānicē, from Latin rōmānicus < rōmānus + -icus. Extended in the 17th century to all languages derived from Latin.
Uncountable when referring to the general feeling of mystery or love; countable when referring to a specific love affair or a musical/literary work.