"Limerence"
 

I just thought I'd chip in here with an observation. I haven't heard the word "limerence" since high school (a while ago) when I read the original "Love and Limerence" book by Tennov (in a not particularly successful effort to expunge a rather painful high-school crush by labelling and analyzing the emotions involved). No one else I knew had heard the term at the time. I remember reading Stendhal too; I thought it was very illuminating. Has the term "limerence" gained more traction as a mainstream descriptor in the intervening time? Or is it just that someone on this board happens to have known about it and started using it (e.g. ALS)?

I haven't heard it, except perhaps once on these boards. For me, I remember when Homer Simpson's "D'oh" became "officially recognized" as an expression in Oxford's (I think that was the one) Dictionary.

Although Limerence might be a fine descriptor for Alizée, I find "D'oh" to be much more useful.

Post: "Alizée thinks you're cute"
Reply: "Really"?
Post: "Just kidding...she doesn't even know who you are"
Reply: D'oh!

Post: "Alizée is coming to your town"
Reply: "Really"?
Post: "No....you're really gullible aren't you"?
Reply: D'oh!

Post: "Alizée's new album has been released"
Reply: "Really"?
Post: "Nope".
Reply: D'oh!

There have been a few threads about it before, but other than that I've never heard the term.

I've heard it, but...
 

SUPPOSEDLY I live in a fairly "literate" area. Cornell University and Ithaca College are right up the road. We get plays, live theater and some music (Donna and the Buffalo are local favorites - i don't like'em, but hey..)

I've personally known of the word since i was in school ('79) so i would have to say whether or not its used by oxford, the rest of us are using it....

Brad: "Alizée said to say hello to you, she likes your posts."
me: "REALLY??"
Brad: "Nope, JK" :rolleyes:
me: "D'oh!" :blink:

Ed :cool:

wow thanks for teaching us that word. the wiki has a page on it, its a good read:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerence

Limerence isn't in the 2002 paperback Oxford English dictionary, neither is Mr. Simpson's Do'h. (Maybe need an upgrade:D )

Never heard of the term either, but then again it's not a swear word (which is my specialist area:p )

The only definition I've been able to find is "the emotional excitement of being in love." But someone must have used the word a little differently at some time.

Tennov coined that word in her research and that book was where she tried to stick it into the lexicon. That's why I was curious if it had achieved wider usage.

Limerence is probably more likely to be common amongst post-adolescents and young adults due to the levels uncertainty and lack of self esteem that are found within limerence. This is because these are stages where most people have heightened interest in another person or people due to the seeking out of a relationship.