Love´lace

( 2 syl. ), the chief male character in Richardson’s novel of Clari a Harlowe . He is rich, proud, and crafty; handsome, brave, and gay; the most unscrupulous but finished libertine; always self-po e ed, insinuating and polished (1749). “Love lace” is as great an improvement on “Lothario,” from which it was drawn, as Rowe’s hero [in the Fair Penitent ] had been on the vulgar rake of Mas singer.— Encyc. Brit. , Art. “Romance.” Love lace ( 2 syl. ), a young aristocrat, who angles with flattery for the daughter of Mr. Drugget, a rich London tradesman. He fools the vulgar tradesman to the top of his bent, and stands well with him; but, being too confident of his influence, demurs to the suggestion of the old man to cut two fine yew trees at the head of the carriage drive into a Gog and Magog. Drugget is intensely angry, throws off the young man, and gives his daughter to a Mr. Woodley.—A. Murphy, Three Weeks after Marriage .