- romantic (n.)
- "an adherent of romantic virtues in literature," 1827, from romantic (adj.).
- romantic (adj.)
- 1650s, "of the nature of a literary romance," from French romantique, from Middle French romant "a romance," oblique case of Old French romanz "verse narrative" (see romance). As a literary style, opposed to classical since before 1812. Meaning "characteristic of an ideal love affair" (such as usually formed the subject of literary romances) is from 1660s.