Late 16th century; earliest use found in Richard Stanyhurst (1547–1618), literary scholar and translator. From love + mate. In some forms from the genitive of love + mate.
Definition of love-mate in US English:
love-mate
nounˈlʌvmeɪt
A romantic partner; a lover.
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in Richard Stanyhurst (1547–1618), literary scholar and translator. From love + mate. In some forms from the genitive of love + mate.