Gifts
English
Although the nature or essence of love is a subject of frequent debate, different aspects of the word can be clarified by determining what isn't love. Love as a general expression of positive sentiment is commonly contrasted with hate; as a less sexual and more emotionally intimate form of romantic attachment, love is commonly contrasted with lust; and as an interpersonal relationship with romantic overtones, love is sometimes contrasted with friendship, although the word love
is often applied to close friendships. The word "love" can have a variety of related but distinct meanings in
different contexts. Many other languages use multiple words to express
some of the different concepts that in English are denoted as "love";
one example is the plurality of Greek words for "love". Cultural differences in conceptualizing love thus doubly impede the establishment of a universal definition.