Ro-mānce'1, n.
(114), n. [O. Eng. romant, romaunt, O. Fr. romans, romant, roman, N. Fr. roman, Pr. romans, Sp. & Pg. romance, It. romanzo, L. Lat. romancium, the common vulgar language, which sprung from the Roman and Latin language, and a species of fictitious composition which was first written in this language, from Lat. Romanicus, Roman.]
Sense 1. A species of fictitious writing, originally composed in meter in the romance dialects, and afterward in prose, such as the tales of the court of Arthur, and of Amadis of Gaul; hence, any fictitious and wonderful tale; a sort of novel, especially one which treats of surprising adventures usually befalling a hero or a heroine; a tale of extravagant adventures of love, and the like.
Upon these three columns—chivalry, gallantry, and religion—repose the fictions of the middle ages, especially those known as romances. These, such as we now know them, and such as display the characteristics above mentioned, were originally metrical, and chiefly written by nations of the north of France. Hallam.
Sense 2. The language, or rather the several dialects which were formed from a mixture of the Latin with the languages of the barbarians, and from which have sprung the languages now prevalent in the south of Europe; hence, called the Romanic languages.
Sense 3. (Mus.) A short lyric tale set to music; a song or short instrumental piece in ballad style;—called also romanza.
Synonyms—Fable; novel; fiction; tale.