Romantic

Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a style of literature and art, esp. of the 19th century, that subordinates form to content, encourages freedom of treatment, emphasizes imagination, emotion, and introspection, and often celebrates nature, the common man, and freedom of the spirit . . . . The Romatic Period [sometimes refered to as our Modern Period in Western culture] also embraces the forces of nature in general in contrast to rigid ideas that might arise from the theoretical nature of man's investment in scholarship, the arts, social reform, institutions, and government . . . . . The Romanitc impulse was to accord importance to the balance of nature, and to focus upon the relationship of man's spirit with the powerful forces of nature . . . .Originally, the Romantic Period evolved in rebellion to Neo-classical expectations and in rebellion to the Neo-classical standards, systems and stringent demands in the interpretation of developed technical rules, social laws, and new institutions--those laws that had developed in a reaction to the previous Baroque Period in which the developments arising from the even earlier Renaissance of Western cultural traditions were perceived as "Barogue": too much, extreme, over-indulgent, and decadent.

Of or pertaining to a musical style, esp. of the 19th century, that is marked by the free expression of imagination and emotion, experimentation with form, and the increase in the size and range of the ochestra . . . .

Imaginary, Fictitius, Fabulous, Fanciful; unpractical . . . . Colorful, Heroic, Adventurous . . . .

R  E  F  E  R  E  N  C  E  S 

1 Romance n. 1. a novel or other prose narrative typically characterized by heroic deeds, pageantry, romantic exploits, etc., usually in a historical or imaginary setting. 2. the colorful world, life, or conditions depicted in such tales. 3. a medieval narrative, originally one in verse and in some Romance dialect, treating of heroic , fantastic, or supernatural events, often in the form of an allegory. 4. a baseless, fanciful story. 5. romantic spirit, sentiment, emotion, or desire. 6. romantic character or quality. 7. a love affair. 8. (cap) Also Romantic. Also called Romance languages, the group of Italic Indo-European languages descended since A.D. 800 from Latin, as French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Rumanian, ProvenÙal, Catalan, Rhaeto-Romantic, Sardinian, and Ladino. Abbr.: Rom -v.i. 9. to indulge in fanciful stories or daydreams. 10. to think or talk romantically. -v.t. 11. Informal to court; woo. -adj. 12. (cap) Also, Romantic. noting, of, or pertaining to Romance. [ME romaunce < OF < VL *Rõmãncé(adv) in a Romance language, L Rõmãnic(us) ROMANIC] -Syn. 1. story, fiction.