Lovelike

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Resembling or suggestive of love in appearance, quality, or manner
2. Having the nature or characteristics that are typical of affection or romantic attachment
3. Displaying qualities that are reminiscent of love or deep emotional attachment

Etymology: "Lovelike" is about as transparent as English compounds get: it joins "love" with the suffix "-like," which means "resembling or having the qualities of" whatever precedes it. Words built this way, such as "childlike" or "godlike," follow the same pattern, attaching a familiar noun to "-like" to describe something that resembles it. Because the suffix is productive, the word needs no special story. Its meaning follows directly from its parts: something that is like love, or that has the qualities of love, in appearance, feeling, or manner.

Synonyms: loving, affectionate, tender

Antonyms: unloving, hateful