The word "valentine" is spelled V-A-L-E-N-T-I-N-E. The first syllable is pronounced as "val", with a short "a" sound and a voiced "l" consonant. The second syllable is pronounced as "en", with a neutral "e" sound and a voiced "n" consonant. The third syllable is pronounced as "tine", with a long "i" sound and a voiceless "t" consonant. Overall, the word is pronounced as "VAL-en-tine" in IPA phonetic transcription. It refers to a term used to express affection, typically given on February 14th.
Valentine can refer to various meanings depending on the context. Primarily, "valentine" is commonly associated with the traditional holiday known as Valentine's Day. This day, celebrated annually on February 14th, is associated with expressing love and affection to others, particularly romantic partners or those admired and cherished.
"Valentine" can also refer to the person to whom a valentine or a declaration of love is sent. In this sense, a valentine is a recipient of love, affection, or admiration, typically in the form of a gift, card, or letter. The exchange of valentines on Valentine's Day is often symbolic of one's romantic interests or closeness.
Furthermore, "valentine" can also be used to describe a heartfelt expression of love or admiration, typically conveyed through a written message or personal gesture. It may also reference a token or gift given on Valentine's Day as a symbol of affection.
Beyond the context of the holiday, "valentine" can be used more broadly to describe someone cherished, loved, or deeply admired. For instance, a person may warmly refer to a close friend or family member as their valentine, indicating the strength of their bond and affection.
Overall, "valentine" encompasses the concept of expressing love, admiration, and affection towards others, particularly on Valentine's Day, but it can also be used more broadly to describe cherished relationships and heartfelt sentiments.
• A sweetheart.
• A letter containing some pictured representation conveying sentiments of love or burlesque, sent by one person to another on the 14th of February, being the day of the festival in the Ch. of Rome in honour of St Valentine, and the day on which birds are supposed to pair; a love-letter; a sweetheart.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "valentine" has its origins in the Latin language. It derives from the Latin word "Valentinus", which is a derivative of the name "Valens", meaning "worthy, strong, or powerful". "Valentinus" was also a popular Roman cognomen, or nickname, which eventually became associated with the Christian martyr, Saint Valentine. Over time, this association with St. Valentine led to the word "valentine" being used to refer to someone to whom one expresses affection or love, especially on Valentine's Day.