romantic love

n. Romantic love is a historical construction, originally associated with knighthood and chivalry. This concept was recently developed and is considered to be a Western construction. Traditional stories of love portrayed it as a tragic and despairing emotion that drove lovers to accomplish daring deeds for their beloved; in theory, true love is the unattainable love that cannot be consummated. Through the centuries, the idea of romantic love developed, and the ideals of romantic love were modified. As arranged marriages declined, romantic love became the basis for choosing a partner. In the media today, romantic love is often portrayed as a feeling that allows partners to transcend past barriers imposed by differences in social class, race, religion, and sometimes even values. – EWMA, CYC