On the etymology and meanings of the word "romance:"
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Etymology[edit]
From Middle English romauns, roumance, borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Old French romanz, romans (the vernacular language of France, as opposed to Latin), from Medieval Latin rōmānicē, Vulgar Latin rōmānicē (“in the Roman language”, adverb), from Latin rōmānicus (“roman”, adj) from rōmānus (“a Roman”).
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Meanings:
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Noun[edit]
romance (countable and uncountable, plural romances)
1. A story relating to chivalry; a story involving knights, heroes, adventures, quests, etc.
2. An intimate relationship between two people; a love affair.
3. A strong obsession or attachment for something or someone.
4. Idealized love which is pure or beautiful.
5. A mysterious, exciting, or fascinating quality.
6. A story or novel dealing with idealized love.
7. An embellished account of something; an idealized lie.
8. An adventure, or series of extraordinary events, resembling those narrated in romances.
His life was a romance.
9. A dreamy, imaginative habit of mind; a disposition to ignore what is real.
She was so full of romance she would forget what she was supposed to be doing.
10. (music) A romanza, or sentimental ballad.
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Source of etymology and definitions:
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/romance
"Romance" is far older than the 19th century, cf.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Romaunt_of_the_Rose
And:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtly_love
Also:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eloisa_to_Abelard
The above will do for starters. I'm glad I recall my required sophomore English classes, which were far and away superior to the trash that is taught today. We read several of the Canterbury Tales in Middle English, and "The Pearl" in Middle English. For "Pearl," cf.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_(poem)
I was fascinated by "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," attributed to "The Pearl" poet. See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Ga...e_Green_Knight
In my junior year high school English class we were required to memorize the first 78 lines of the general prologue to "The Canterbury Tales," in Middle English, and translate the whole damn prologue. cf.:
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/we...ry/2genpro.pdf
Such were the schools in the 1960s.
I'll address the genetics in another post, especially the 5-HTTLPR (serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region).