[It. amoretto a ‘little love,’ dim. of amore love; cf. prec. Formerly naturalized, with pl. amorettoes, amoretto’s, but now treated as It. with pl. amoretti.]
† a. A lover (obs.) † b. A love-sonnet (obs.) † c. A love-trick (obs.) d. A little love, a cupid.
1596. Spenser, (title of Love-sonnets), Amoretti.
1646. J. Hall, Poems, 35. In each line lie More Amorettoe’s then in Doris eye.
1654. Gayton, Fest. Notes, 47 (T.). The amoretto was wont to take his stand at one place, where sate his mistress.
1710. Palmer, Proverbs, 139. The amoretto’s of Bedlam … were always weak silly people, and were us’d to the conversation of ballad & romance.
1873. Symonds, Grk. Poets, x. 335. A painting, in which amoretti are plentiful.
