lover
part of speech
noun (a lover, lovers)
meaning for a pupil
1) A lover of something is a person who likes it very much: an animal lover, a book lover, a music lover. tree →
2) (adult) A lover is a person someone loves in a romantic way and is in a close relationship with, especially when they are not married. tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: Here it usually means the false gods and foreign nations that Israel chased after, not a person. It is part of the prophets' picture of Israel as an unfaithful wife. Interpretation: The prophets picture God as Israel's husband, and idolatry or foreign alliances as unfaithful love. Tradition reads these stories as calls to come back to God. In the primary lessons: Most often in children's life: «nature lover», «chocolate lover», «dog lover». In stories and poems: young lovers, star-crossed lovers (Romeo and Juliet). Sense 2 is adult and usually about a secret or unmarried relationship.
examples
- In vain dost thou make thyself fair; thy lovers despise thee, they seek thy life. (Prophets JER.4.30, JPS 1917) tree →
- For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself; Ephraim hath hired lovers. (Prophets HOS.8.9, JPS 1917) tree →
- But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; and wouldest thou yet return to Me? saith the LORD. (Prophets JER.3.1, JPS 1917) tree →
- My aunt is a great animal lover. tree →
- This book is perfect for lovers of adventure stories. tree →
- Dad is a football lover. tree →
- Romeo and Juliet are the most famous lovers in plays. tree →
- The two lovers walked hand in hand by the river. tree →
- Calling all chocolate lovers: free samples today! tree →
- Then she hurried away with her lover. tree →
note
Countable. Safe for children in sense 1 (a lover of something). In sense 2 it can suggest a secret relationship; «boyfriend», «girlfriend» or «partner» are more usual everyday words.
In the corpora
- But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; and wouldest thou yet return to Me? saith the LORD.
- In vain dost thou make thyself fair; thy lovers despise thee, they seek thy life.
- And Oholah played the harlot when she was Mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians, warriors,
- Wherefore I delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.
- And now will I uncover her shame in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of My hand.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «lover» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.