We know you adore studying English vocabulary to learn new words, and cherish the benefits that a comprehensive and flexible vocabulary bring to your professional and personal life, so we thought we’d give you a Valentine’s Day gift of four useful vocabulary words appropriate to the occasion.

fidelity (fih-DEL-uh-tee) noun
Definition: Loyalty and faithfulness. In the context of interpersonal relationships, this means that you stay true to your partner or spouse, without having romantic connections with anyone else. The word comes from the Latin root fides, meaning “faith, loyalty.”
Example: Such was the fidelity of Aunt Joan’s love for my Uncle Frank that she never remarried or even dated other men, even though she was widowed at an early age.

infatuation (in-FA-tyu-AY-shun) noun
Note: The first A in the word is pronounced like the A in the word “cat.”
Definition: An obsessive feeling of love that seems to have no reason behind it. This word can be traced back to the Latin word fatuus (“foolish”).
Example: From the Beatles to Justin Bieber, it seems there’s always a cute pop singer that fuels the infatuation of teenage girls.

paramour (PAIR-ah-moor) noun
Definition: In one of the 180-degree changes in meaning that the English language is known for, this word, which originally was used to refer to a chaste, holy, and pure love, now means an illicit lover, mistress, gigolo, or concubine, particularly one in an adulterous relationship outside of marriage. The word comes from the French phrase par amour, “with (by) love.”
Example: The oil heiress’ husband depends on her for all of his money and support, but that doesn’t stop him from having a string of paramours, at least according to the tabloid newspapers.

inamorata/inamorato (een-AH-mor-AH-tah or -toh) noun
Definition: From the Italian word for love (amore), this is the term you would use for your boyfriend (inamorato) or girlfriend (inamorata); literally, the one you are “in love” with.
Example: Go to that restaurant with your inamorata on Valentine’s Day and they’ll give you a free glass of champagne with your appetizer, and two chocolate truffles for dessert.