Response to Oxford English Dictionary
The following is a letter sent by Dorothy Tennov in response to an inquiry from the Oxford English Dictionary, asking when the term "limerence" was first used. The letter is published in Dorothy Tennov's collected works, A Scientist Looks at Romantic Love and Calls It Limerence (2005, eBook, p. 28). In the letter, she mentions Helen Fisher (whom she had corresponded with in the 1990s), and expresses that she does not want "limerence" to be seen as a synonym for "infatuation" or "being in love", but does not clearly explain herself. Dear Fiona McPherson, In response to your inquiry regarding the origin of “limerence”, I believe you are correct that the word first appeared in the London Observer following my first use of the term at a psychology convention. I did give a paper at the Eastern Psychological Association on romantic love in 1973, butif memory serves me, I had not yet coined the term at that time. Dr. Mark Morton of the Department ...