Loveache

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sharp, aching sadness or yearning that comes from being in love or from being separated from someone loved
2. The emotional pain of unrequited affection or of missing a beloved person deeply
3. Heartfelt anguish brought on by love, whether through longing, separation or lost affection

Etymology: Like "heartache" and "toothache," this is a transparent compound: "love" joined to "ache," so it names a pain caused by love. The word "ache" goes back to Old English "æce," a noun for a lasting, dull pain, and the verb "æcan," "to ache," comes from the same root. Its spelling was "ake" for centuries, and the "ch" spelling became standard only later, so the modern look of the word is a fairly recent change. "Love" descends from Old English "lufu," which belongs to the old Germanic family of words for affection and desire. Both halves are native English words, so "loveache" needed no borrowing from Latin or French. It is a plain combination of two long-established parts, not a coinage with a known inventor.