Alexander Schmidt, Shakespeare Lexicon and Quotation Dictionary

Lover, 1) one loving, one kindly disposed: “I shall prove a l. of thy drum, hater of love,” All's III, 3, 11. “a true l. of the holy church,” H5 I, 1, 23. Hence == friend: “my --s gone,” Sonn. 31, 10. “thy deceased l.” 32, 4. “my --'s l.” 63, 12. “thy --'s withering,” 126, 4. “how dear a l. of my lord your husband,” Merch. III, 4, 7. “Antonio, the bosom l. of my lord,” Merch. III, 4, 7 “they are the drops of thy --s,” H4B IV, 3, 14. “no great good l. of the archbishop's,” H8 IV, 1, 104. “I as your l. speak,” Troil. III, 3, 214. “thy general is my l.” Cor. V, 2, 14. “thy l. Artemidorus,” Caes. II, 3, 9. “Romans, countrymen, and --s,” III, 2, 13. “I slew my best l.” III, 2, 13 “--s in peace,” V, 1, 95.
2) one enamoured, a person in love; absol.: --s “say, the heart hath treble wrong when it is barred the aidance of the tongue,” Ven. 329. “like a lowly l. down she kneels,” Ven. 329 Ven. 329 Pilgr. 101. Pilgr. 101 Gent. II, 2, 21. II, 4, 97. II, 5, 44. III, 1, 41. III, 1, 41 IV, 2, 13. V, 1, 4. Ado I, 1, 308. Mids. I, 1, 150. Mids. I, 1, 150 III, 2, 452. Merch. II, 6, 4. As II, 4, 26. II, 7, 147. III, 2, 246. Troil. III, 1, 131. Cymb. III, 2, 36 etc. etc. --s == an amorous couple: Tp. IV, 86. Mids. V, 160. Mids. V, 160 Tw. II, 3, 44. Tw. II, 3, 44. Oth. I, 3, 200. III, 4, 174. Used of the part of the amoroso in a play: “what is Pyramus? a l. or a tyrant?” Mids. I, 2, 24. “the l. shall not sigh gratis,” Hml. II, 2, 335. Relatively, a) one in love with: “and send you many --s,” LLL II, 126. “to mock our --s,” V, 2, 58. “thy l.” Mids. V, 197. “the l. of any other,” As III, 2, 403. “a l. of mine and a l. of hers,” V, 2, 82. “had she no l. there,” Troil. IV, 5, 288. b) one tied to another by love, one beloved; masc.: “to write unto her l.” Gent. II, 1, 174. Mids. I, 2, 55. III, 1, 206 (M. Edd. love's). V, 319. H5 II, 4, 108. Ant. V, 2, 298. fem. == mistress“: carrying a letter to your l.” Gent. I, 1, 116. “your brother and his l. have embraced,” Meas. I, 4, 40. “the heart of his l.” As III, 4, 46. “as to a --'s bed,” Ant. IV, 14, 101. “had a royal l.” Cymb. V, 5, 172.