PsychologyAugust 18, 2026

limerence

LIM-er-ens

Definition

A state of involuntary, intense romantic attachment to another person, often characterized by obsessive thoughts and a yearning for reciprocation that is not returned.

Etymology

The term was coined by psychologist Dorothy Tennov in 1979 in her book 'Love and Limerence.' It does not have a formal etymological root in Latin or Greek, as Tennov created it specifically to describe this psychological state.

In the news

The article introduces limerence as the psychological term for hopeless, unrequited longing, highlighting how the impossibility of the situation can paradoxically heighten the intensity of the desire.

Limerence and the Perils of Hopeless Longing

Read the full article ↗

Psychology Today

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