Love

Of all the English words that have multiple variations in meaning and application, love is undoubtedly among the most notoriously varied. From across generations, the term continues to take different forms courtesy of the broad range of contexts to which it is applicable. Five millennia ago, the word entered vocabularies as ‘leubh’ courtesy of the Proto-Indo-Europeans. People from the era used the term to describe care or desire, but by the time the English began to employ it in their vocabulary as ‘lufu,’ many employed it to describe the feeling of deep fondness. There exists a strong interrelationship between ‘lufu’ and ‘luve’ form the Frisian community, and ‘lubo,’ an actively used expression by the Old High German speakers.  Religion is among the most significant influences of the spread of the word ‘love’ and its associated meaning, and most people started to attach it with other descriptions such as kindness. During the days of yore, the expression would be adequate to describe a person held with high regard. Later on, however, people began strongly relating it with the act of sexual intercourse. In the world today, people continue to derive different meanings from the word, courtesy of its broad application.

The dictionary gives a variety of uses for the word ‘love’ depending on whether one treats it as a noun or a verb. As a noun, according to Merriam Webster, it is a “strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties.” This description also goes on further to admit that the liking or fondness could come up as a result of sexual desire, or adoration and compassion. Used as a noun also, one may use it to show a state of steadfast loyalty and selflessness, as in, “the Love of God to Humankind.” As a verb, however, there are many variations in the utilization of the expression. However, the most general conclusion of “loving someone” is to hold them with high regard, which is to cherish them for the reason that their qualities appeal to you more than those from others. It could also signify the act of enjoying or derive pleasure from something, or someone. In the context of love between human beings, the English language draws a lot of inspiration form the Greek’s distinct application of the word in different settings. Agape love brings to light a type of religious and sacrificial sense of love, typical in the relationship between God, and Allah in Islam with the creation. Eros, characterized by sex, appeals more with the intimate side of humankind. The kind of relationship beyond family and everyday friendship. Storge highlights the natural fondness felt between family members, most significantly the kind a parent feels for their children. Finally, according to the Greeks as well, Philia refers to a sort of unemotional liking that is more typical in friendships and societal relationships. This four descriptions generally underscore the various global uses of the term ‘love’ between human relations.

A lot of my experiences inform my definition of love. Firstly, it is undeniable that the feeling is stronger than your everyday emotions. It is an emotion that a human being may carry in their hearts for the most extended period, and it is mostly a factor that drives both men and women, in equal measure, into situations they would not otherwise imagine. In light of this, I describe love as a strong sense of affection to a person or thing, where, one feels a feeling of helplessness or misery when without them. Although love is universal and should begin by people cherishing others just by the fact that they are human, I find that more individuals develop their affection to others after establishing trust. The same applies to me as I discovered that trust opens the door to a genuine, loving relationship as compared to the usual feeling of regard to human nature. In my experience, I find that when people say they are ‘looking for love,’ they do not mean that they have no one in their lives who shows them care, or who is worthy of their affection. However, they tend to mean that they are looking for a soul mate-a person with whom they will feel a unique sense of connection and understanding. On matters regarding material things or activities, I define love as a feeling of enjoyment or pleasure derived from committing one’s self to those actions. The same could be said during the act of consensual sex, as most aptly described in the phrase, ‘to make love.’

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the term ‘love’ continues to evolve and demand newer definitions, especially from its broad application. For instance, in the early days of its use in language, people exclusively employed it to refer to a beloved person. Over the years, however, other applications emerged, especially with its association to intercourse. The word originated among the Old High Germans and the Frisian communities in the form of ‘Lubo’ and and ‘luve,’ respectively, before its formal conception to the English vocabulary as ‘lufu.’ The term commands a wide of usage in the modern international stage, especially with multiple contexts in which it is applicable. It comes in handy when an individual needs to express their passion in a particular activity, career choice, or their regard to someone. According to the Greeks distinct applications of the term in the perspective of human relationships, love could take four forms: Philia referring to the family relations; Eros, a display of fondness based on sexual intimacy; Storge, characterized by a sense of loyalty to the whole community and; Agape which symbolizes the reverential and sacrificial type of love. These definitions lay the foundation of the many appropriate uses of the term ‘love,’ both in action and in words.