Also 5 valantine (6 Sc. -tene), valeyntyne, 5–6 valentyne (6 -tyn); 7 vallentyne; 5 Sc., 6 walentyne (6 Sc. wall-); 5 volentyn(e, -antyne, -ontyn. [a. OF. (also mod.F.) Valentin, or ad. L. Valentīnus, the name of two early Italian saints, both commemorated on the 14th of February.]
1. (St.) Valentine’s day, the 14th of February.
Freq. mentioned with reference to the choosing of sweethearts or the mating of birds.
c. 1381. Chaucer, Parl. Foules, 309. For this was on seynt Volantynys day Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.
c. 1430. Lydgate’s Min. Poems (1911), I. 304. A balade made … in wyse of chesing loues at Saint Valentynes day.
c. 1450. Chron. London (Kingsford, 1905), 127. The xiiij day of Feuerell, that is to say vpon seynt Valentyne’s day, the Kyng com to London.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 137. And after saynt Valentynes daye, it is tyme to graffe both peares and wardens.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. v. 48. To morrow is S. Valentines day.
1668. H. More, Div. Dial., III. xiii. (1713), 206. As some … embrace the first they meet on Valentine’s day.
1725. Bourne, in Brand, Pop. Antiq. (1777), xviii. 209. Such is the Observation of Candlemas-Day, such is Childermas-Day, such Valentine’s-Day, and some others.
1822. Nares, Gloss., 538. The number of letters sent on Valentine’s Day, makes several additional sorters necessary at the Post Office in London.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, v. How blithe would she have been to see this happy Saint Valentine’s morning!
1854. [see VALENTINE v. 2].
ellipt. 1590. Shaks., Mids. N., IV. i. 144. Saint Valentine is past, Begin these wood birds but to couple now?
1714. Gay, Shepherd’s Week, IV. 37. Last Valentine, the day when birds of kind Their paramours with mutual chirpings find.
b. St. Valentine’s eve (Sc. Valentine’s e’en), the eve of St. Valentine’s day.
1671. Roxb. Ball. (1890), VII. 113. A Crew on S. Valentine’s Eve did meet together.
1814–28. Somerville, Life & Times (1861), 344. Valentine’s e’en, and Hallowe’en,… used to be anniversaries observed in every house by the … young people.
1828. Scott, F. M. Perth, xiii. I will have no evasions, boy—Where wert thou on St. Valentine’s Eve?
2. A person of the opposite sex chosen, drawn by lot, or otherwise determined, on St. Valentine’s day, as a sweetheart, lover or special friend for the ensuing year.
a. 1450. Ms. Harl. 1735, fol. 48 (Halliw.). Godys blescyng have he and myn, My none gentyl Volontyn, Good Tomas the frere.
1477. Paston Lett., III. 170. Unto my ryght welebelovyd Voluntyn, John Paston, Squyer, be this bill delyvered.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), III. 564. A! god be with my valentynes. My byrd swetyng, my lovys so dere!
1535. Bury Wills (Camden), 126. I gyf and bequeth to my valentyn Agnes Illyon x s.
1596. Raleigh, Disc. Guiana, 23. After the Queens haue chosen, the rest cast lottes for their Valentines.
1623. in Crt. & Times Jas. I. (1848), II. 395. To the great grief of his sweetheart, Mrs. Bray, my ancient valentine.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 14 Feb. This morning came up to my wife’s bedside … little Will Mercer to be her Valentine…. But I am also this year my wife’s Valentine.
1712. Woodes Rogers, Voy. r. World, 359. That same Day, in Commemoration of the antient Custom in England of chusing Valentines, I drew up a List of the fair Ladies in Bristol … and sent for my Officers into the Cabbin, where every one drew.
1719. Ozell, trans. Misson’s Mem. Trav. Eng., 331. There is another kind of Valentine; which is the first young Man or Woman that Chance throws in your Way in the Street, or elsewhere, on that Day.
a. 1859. Macaulay, in Sat. Rev. (1863), 152. All good attend my Valentine!
transf. c. 1750. Goldsm., in W. Irving, Biog. (1849), iv. 54. With submission at your shrine, Comes a heart your Valentine.
† b. Applied to God, or to one of the Saints, as a patron chosen by a worshipper. Obs.
c. 1450. Godstow Register (1911), 14. O true valeyntyne is oure lord to me.
1500. Will of Hewetts (Somerset Ho.). To … Saint Mary & to her moder Saint Anne my speciall voweis & volentyns on whoos day I was borne.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Valentines,… Saints chosen for special Patrons for a year, according to the use of the Romanists.
3. A folded paper inscribed with the name of a person to be drawn as a valentine. To draw valentines, to draw lots for this or other reasons.
c. 1553. Cecil Papers (Hist. MSS. Comm.), I. 134. There is three papers like unto walentynes put in a cap and so they draw.
1639. Sc. Acts Parlt. (1870), V. 604/2. Act ordaining the Commissioneris of shyris to draw lottis and valentines ȝeirlie at ilk parliament for thair places.
1725. Bourne, in Brand, Pop. Antiq. (1777), 225. It is a Ceremony, never omitted among the Vulgar, to draw Lots, which they Term Valentines, on the Eve before Valentine-day.
1774. Pennant, Tour Scotl., I. 141. The young people … in February draw Valentines, and from them collect their future fortune in the nuptial state.
1787. Burns, Tam Glen, vi. Yestreen at the valentines’ dealing,… thrice I drew ane without failing, And thrice it was written—Tam Glen!
† b. A gift or present to a person drawn or chosen as one’s especial friend on St. Valentine’s day.
c. 1610. in Heriot’s Mem., App. VII. (1822), 215. For gold, and making of a Valentine.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. ii. II. iv. Many such allurements there are,… tokens, favours, symbols, letters, valentines, &c.
c. A written or printed letter or missive, a card of dainty design with verses or other words, esp. of an amorous or sentimental nature, sent on St. Valentine’s day to a person of the opposite sex; in later use also a printed sheet consisting of a more or less grotesque picture with humorous or satirical rhymes (more exactly called a mock valentine).
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. (1863), 42. A fine sheet of flourishing writing, something between a valentine and a sampler.
1844. Alb. Smith, Adv. Mr. Ledbury, xxiv. (1886), 73. He had that morning received … a valentine, in a lady’s handwriting, and perfectly anonymous.
1879. Paper & Printing Trades Jrnl., XXIX. 20. One occasionally hears that valentines are going out.
1898. Daily News, 15 Feb., 7/1. The Christmas card has apparently killed the valentine…. Valentines are still sold, and sent, but they are chiefly of the satirical order.
d. transf. (Cf. VALENTINE v. 1.)
1847. Tennyson, Princ., V. 229. A song on every spray Of birds that piped their Valentines.
† 4. Sc. a. (Meaning uncertain.) Obs.–1
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 918. Thus wycit he the walentyne thraly and thrawin.
† b. ‘A sealed letter from the Crown to landholders for the apprehension of persons offending against the law.’ Obs.
1556. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., X. 318. For inbringin of certane personis gevin in valentynis to the airis of Elgin, Banf, and Abirdene.
1561. Reg. Privy Council Scot., I. 169. Thir personis underwritten:… in presence of the Quenis Grace ressavit thair valentinis of the names of the personis culpable of thift.
1587. Sc. Acts Parlt. (1814), III. 464/2. The kingis Maiesties clois valentynis to be send to the Maisteris,… baillies and chiftanes of all notable lymmeris and thevis.
5. attrib. and Comb., as valentine-bag, glove, -writer; Valentine-bun (see quot. 1854); Valentine-day, = sense 1.
1695. Lady G. Baillie, Househ. Bk. (S.H.S.), 257. To Lisi Rainald for my Robin’s vallantin gloves.
1725. Bourne, in Brand, Pop. Antiq. (1777), 225. On the Eve before Valentine-day.
1802. (title) Fairburn’s Annual, Original, Comic & Entertaining Valentine-writer for the year 1802.
1828. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. III. (1863), 505. Those that issue from the bursting Valentine-bag of our postman.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., s.v., In Peterborough … sweet plum buns were formerly, and I believe are still, made, called Valentine buns.
