lack-love

English

Etymology

lack +‎ love

Adjective

lack-love (comparative more lack-love, superlative most lack-love)

1. Uncaring; indifferent to love; loveless.
   • 1917, Arthur Shearly Cripps, “The End of the Rains”, in Lake and War‎^[1], page 17:

     And I in exile's lack-love loneliness / Must sigh for joy if yet I may not sing—

   • 1988, Karl J. Nice, Science and other ways of knowing:

     The effects upon the development of personality and behavior of a lack-love infancy appear to have still further repercussions.

Noun

lack-love (plural lack-loves)

1. (obsolete) A heartless person; someone who is uncaring and indifferent to love.
   • c. 1595–1596, William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, act 2, scene 2, lines 76–77:

     Pretty soul! she durst not lie / Near this lack-love, this kill-courtesy.