February's Bonus Content: Terms of Endearment (Patreon)

When writing a game about courtships set in a bygone era it is imperative to know just how to write them accurately. In any case, the language of love in the 18th century was entirely too swoon-worthy to overlook. Between simple terms of endearment to popular phrases, there is, fortunately, a wealth of material to learn from.

Pet Names:

Choosing which terms of endearment the ROs and Francis might use towards the MC is perhaps one of the most important debates I have encountered thus far, and I haven't yet fully concluded which ones each character will use, but these are some that were used at the time with notes on who is confirmed to say which at this time.

• (My) Beloved
• Cupid
• Darling
• (My) Dearest - Used by Edith and Edward
• Dear Heart
• (My) Dove
• (My) Heart's Delight
• (My) Joy
• Lambkin - Used by Francis
• (My) Love
• (My) Pearl
• Poppet - Used by The Uninvited Guest
• Precious
• (My) Star
• Sunshine
• (My) Sweetheart
• Sweetling
• (My) Treasure

Sign-offs On Letters:

Conversely, we also have a series of names given to one's self in regards to their beau. There was often mention of how they saw themself as such. This is a small sample of ways to sign off.

• Eternally yours
• Ever yours
• Your devoted servant
• Your entire
• Your faithful and devoted
• Your most ardent admirer
• Yours sincerely

Common Phrases:

There are so many to choose from that it is easier just to link to the definitive book of them, rightfully called A Dictionary of Love, published in 1777, available on archive.org. It alphabetically goes into typical terms and phrases with insights on their use, and I cannot love it more for that. How I would love to own a copy for myself!

Passages of Love:

As literacy rates improved, there was a boom in letter-writing. While I would love to find true examples of these—a most complete look into how real people in real relationships spoke to each other (at least on paper)—I have found it incredibly hard to find catalogued examples of such writing in the years directly preceding 1742. The best I've been able to do is refer to fiction, though as I am writing fiction myself, it is not so bad a trade-off. Here is an excerpt from the epistolary novel Clarissa by Samuel Richardson (1740).

"Let us be mutually endeared, my dearest creature, to each other. Let us put an end to all misunderstandings. Let us be united for ever. Nor grief nor repentance shall ever have place between us. I will be all you wish me to be. You shall make me what you will. You shall prescribe to me rules of acting, which I will implicitly observe. Love shall be my future guide. I will have no will but your will, no pleasure but your pleasure, no delight but what I shall share with you. Give me hope, my dearest creature! Chide me not for my past presumption. You shall teach me humility. Let me hope that one day you will be mine entirely—mine in every sense—my wife—my lawful wife! I will then call my own a heart so excellent—so exalted! You must—will—give me this hope, or I shall be the most miserable of beings."

If you happen to know of any resources I've overlooked, I would adore being told of it!

Writing Love Letters:

For the more practical approach, here are some tips from a modern historian, Dr Sally Holloway, Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow in History & History of Art at Oxford Brookes University, on how to write an 18th century love letter. Here she goes into not only how long or short to make your letter, but what paper you should use! Perhaps one day I will pick up her book The Game of Love in Georgian England.

In Conclusion:

The languages of love in the Georgian era were abound with endearments, making them an integral part of my research. For the ultimate compendium, which features all the above, The New Academy of Complements, published in the 18th century, is not to be missed.

What terms or phrases do you suspect the ROs are apt to use?