Ro*man"tic (?), a. [F. romantique, fr. OF. romant. See Romance.]

1.

Of or pertaining to romance; involving or resembling romance; hence, fanciful; marvelous; extravagant; unreal; as, a romantic tale; a romantic notion; a romantic undertaking.

Can anything in nature be imagined more profane and impious, more absurd, and undeed romantic, than such a persuasion? South.

Zeal for the good of one's country a party of men have represented as chimerical and romantic. Addison.

2.

Entertaining ideas and expectations suited to a romance; as, a romantic person; a romantic mind.

3.

Of or pertaining to the style of the Christian and popular literature of the Middle Ages, as opposed to the classical antique; of the nature of, or appropriate to, that style; as, the romantic school of poets.

4.

Characterized by strangeness or variety; suggestive of adventure; suited to romance; wild; picturesque; -- applied to scenery; as, a romantic landscape.

Syn. -- Sentimental; fanciful; fantastic; fictitious; extravagant; wild; chimerical. See Sentimental.

The romantic drama. See under Drama.

 

© Webster 1913.