n. Originally, a tale in verse, written in one of the Romance dialects, as early French or Provencal; hence, any popular epic belonging to the literature of modern Europe, or any fictitious story of heroic, marvelous, or supernatural incidents derived from history or legend, and told in prose or verse and at considerable length: as, the romance of Charlemagne; the Arthurian romances.n. In Spain and other Romanic countries—either a short epic narrative poem (historic ballad), or, latern. a short lyric poem.n. A tale or novel dealing not so much with real or familiar life as with extraordinary and often extravagant adventures, as Cervantes's “Don Quixote,” with rapid and violent changes of scene and fortune, as Dumas's “Count of Monte Cristo,” with mysterious and supernatural events, as R. L. Stevenson's “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” or with morbid idiosyncrasies of temperament, as Godwin's “Caleb Williams,” or picturing imaginary conditions of society influenced by imaginary characters, as Fouqué's “Undine.”n. special forms of the romance, suggested by the subject and the manner of treatment, are the historical, the pastoral, the philosophical, the psychological, the allegorical, etc. See novel, n., 4.n. Others were much scandalized. It [“The Pilgrim's Progress”] was a vain story, a mere romance, about giants, and lions, and goblins, and warriors.n. An invention; fiction; falsehood: used euphemistically.n. A blending of the heroic, the marvelous, the mysterious, and the imaginative in actions, manners, ideas, language, or literature; tendency of mind to dwell upon or give expression to the heroic, the marvelous, the mysterious, or the imaginative.n. In music: A setting of a romantic story or tale; a ballad.n. Any short, simple melody of tender character, whether vocal or instrumental; a song, or song without words. Also romanza.n. [capitalized] A Romance language, or the Romance languages. See II.n. Synonyms Tale, etc. See novel.Pertaining to or denoting the languages which arose, in the south and west of Europe, out of the Roman or Latin language as spoken in the provinces at one time subject to Rome.To invent and relate fictitious stories; deal in extravagant, fanciful, or false recitals; lie.To be romantic; behave romantically or with fanciful or extravagant enthusiasm; build castles in the air.To treat, present, or discuss in a romantic manner.