Platonic love

[ pluh-ton-ik luhv, pley- ]

noun

1. Platonism. love of the Idea of beauty, seen as terminating an evolution from the desire for an individual and the love of physical beauty to the love and contemplation of spiritual or ideal beauty.
2. Usually platonic love. an intimate companionship or relationship, especially between two people of different genders, that is characterized by the absence of sexual involvement; a spiritual affection.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Platonic love¹

First recorded in 1635–45

Example Sentences

The single bright ray across her life was an absolutely platonic love for her cousin Charles Grandet.

From Project Gutenberg

What has been clumsily called Platonic love is thus a Christian creation.

From Project Gutenberg

He is often described by the historians of literature as the poet who finally broke down the tradition of Platonic love.

From Project Gutenberg

But the trouble with Platonic love is that it's always turning out too nice to be Platonic, or too Platonic to be nice.

From Project Gutenberg

The phrase "platonic love" is on the lips of many, but, as a rule, something very different from Plato's own doctrine is meant.

From Project Gutenberg