Boyfriend: Difference between revisions
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A '''boyfriend''' is a regular male companion in a [[Romance (love)|romantic]] and or [[sexual relationship]], <ref>Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English , published 23 June 2005, University of Oxford, ISBN 978-0-19-861022-9 edition</ref> although normally not in long-term committed (e.g. marital) relationships, where other titles (e.g. ''husband, partner'') are more commonly used. A boyfriend can also be called an admirer, beau, fiancé, suitor and soul mate.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thesaurus.com|title=Boyfriend|url=http://thesaurus.com/browse/boyfriend?s=t|accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> |
A '''boyfriend''' is a regular male companion in a deep, strong and close [[Romance (love)|romantic]] and or [[sexual relationship]], <ref>Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English , published 23 June 2005, University of Oxford, ISBN 978-0-19-861022-9 edition</ref> although normally not in long-term committed (e.g. marital) relationships, where other titles (e.g. ''husband, partner'') are more commonly used. A boyfriend can also be called an admirer, beau, fiancé, suitor and soul mate.<ref>{{cite web|last=Thesaurus.com|title=Boyfriend|url=http://thesaurus.com/browse/boyfriend?s=t|accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> |
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==Scope== |
==Scope== |
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Revision as of 00:56, 22 September 2012
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A boyfriend is a regular male companion in a deep, strong and close romantic and or sexual relationship, [1] although normally not in long-term committed (e.g. marital) relationships, where other titles (e.g. husband, partner) are more commonly used. A boyfriend can also be called an admirer, beau, fiancé, suitor and soul mate.[2]
Scope
Partners in committed non-marital relationships are also sometimes described as a significant other or partner, [3] especially if the individuals are cohabiting.
Boyfriend and partner mean different things to different people; the distinctions between the terms are subjective. How the term is used will ultimately be determined by personal preference.[4][5]
A 2005 study of 115 people ages 21 to 35 who were either living with or had lived with a romantic partner notes that the lack of proper terms often leads to awkward situations, such as someone upset over not being introduced in social situations to avoid the question.[6]
There is a significant difference between girlfriend and boyfriend, and girl friend and boy friend. In a strictly grammatical sense, a girlfriend[7] or boyfriend[8] is an 'individual of significance' with whom one shares a relationship.
Word history
The word dating entered the American language during the Roaring Twenties. Prior to that, courtship was a matter of family and community interest. Starting around the time of the Civil War, courtship became a private matter for couples.[9] In the early to mid 20th century in the US, women were often visited by "gentleman callers", single men who would arrive at the home of a young woman with the hopes of beginning a courtship.[10] The era of the gentleman caller ended in the early 20th century and the modern idea of dating developed.[11]
In literature, the term is discussed in July 1988 in Neil Bartlett's, Who Was That Man? A Present for Mr Oscar Wilde. On pages 108-110, Bartlett quotes from an issue of The Artist and Journal of Home Culture, which refers to Alectryon as "a boyfriend of Mars".
Synonyms
- An older man may be referred to as a sugar daddy, a well-to-do man who financially supports or lavishly spends on a mistress, girlfriend, or boyfriend.[12]
- In popular culture, slang, internet chat, and cellphone texting, the truncated acronym bf is also used.[13]
- Leman, an archaic word for "sweetheart, paramour," from Medieval British leofman (c.1205), from Old English leof (cognate of Dutch lief, German lieb) "dear" + man "human being, person" was originally applied to either gender, but usually means mistress.[14]
- The term young man was at some periods used with a similar connotation. For example, in the 1945 film "My Name Is Julia Ross" the female protagonist, seeking a secretarial job, is asked if she has "a young man"[15] - where in later films a similar question would have referred to "a boyfriend".
See also
References
- ^ Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English , published 23 June 2005, University of Oxford, ISBN 978-0-19-861022-9 edition
- ^ Thesaurus.com. "Boyfriend". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Thesaurus.com. "Significant other". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Wavey, Davey. [breaktheillusion.com/life/partner-vs-boyfriend/ ""Partner" vs "Boyfriend""].
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ Goldstein, Meredith (15 June 2009). "Partner? Boyfriernd? Maybe?". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Jayson, Sharon (23 June 2008). "Adults stumble over what to call their romantic partners". USA Today. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "Girlfriend". WordNet. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ^ "Boyfriend". WordNet. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ^ Hirsch, Elaine. "The History of Dating and Communication". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Hunt, Lana J. "Ladies and Gentleman". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Hirsch, Elaine. "The History of Dating and Communication". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Merriam-Webster. "Sugar daddy". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ BF - Definition by AcronymFinder
- ^ The Free Dictionary By Farlex. "Leman". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Aliperti, Cliff. "My Name is Julia Ross (1945) starring Nina Foch and George Macready". Retrieved 6 May 2012.
External links
