Lets be creative and start adding words to the language (that’s the joy of english, we can do that) and coin words to differentiate between these various levels of love. Maybe start with three: INADE for the feeling for a parent toward a child when looking at the child sleeping peacefully in their crib/bed. UOVE for the feeling of an adult toward another adult when sitting as a restaurant, holding hands, looking only at each other and realizing that the sounds of the room are missing. NAEVIE for the feeling of a favorite food being offered and the sensations of that first taste sliding gently across the pallet, triggering the wonderful memories which made the food a favorite.

Shall we start a new dictionary?

Some of us suspect that many other feelings can mimic love, especially in the short term. For men, especially, there’s love-like adrenalin high and devotion that can flow from infatuation or a sense of out-of-the-ordinary stimulation or, even, escapism. And, how about attachment to a rescuer? In some weird parallel to the Stockholm Syndrome (when captives become attached to their kidnapper), it can be the case that two people are drawn together because they are each rescuing one another from their “ordinary” daily travails. That sense of being elevated, treated uniquely and rescued sure can generate short-term highs that feel the attributes of love. But, upon closer examination it’s really more like falling for the lifeguard at the beach (or swimming pool). — Thanks for continuing to help distinguish these heart emotions.