Kiss

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Kiss, v. t. [OE. kissen, cussen, AS. cyssan, fr. coss a kiss; of uncertain origin; akin to D. kus, G. kuss, Icel. koss.].

•  To salute with the lips, as a mark of affection, reverence, submission, forgiveness, etc.  [1913 Webster]

  "He . . . kissed her lips with such a clamorous smack,
  That at the parting all the church echoed."  [1913 Webster]
•  To touch gently, as if fondly or caressingly.  [1913 Webster]

  "When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees."  [1913 Webster]

Kiss, v. i. 

•  To make or give salutation with the lips in token of love, respect, etc.; as, kiss and make friends.  [1913 Webster]
•  To meet; to come in contact; to touch fondly.  [1913 Webster]

  "Like fire and powder,
  Which as they kiss consume."  [1913 Webster]

  "Rose, rose and clematis,
  Trail and twine and clasp and kiss."  [1913 Webster]

Kissing comfit, a perfumed sugarplum to sweeten the breath. [Obs or Prov. End.] Shak.

Kiss, n. [OE. kiss, derived under the influence of the verb from the older form coss, AS. coss. See Kiss, v.].

•  A salutation with the lips, as a token of affection, respect, etc.; as, a parting kiss; a kiss of reconciliation.  [1913 Webster]

  "Last with a kiss, she took a long farewell."  [1913 Webster]

  "Dear as remembered kisses after death."  [1913 Webster]
•  A small piece of confectionery.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Kiss, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. touch with the lips, esp. as a sign of love, affection, greeting, or reverence.
2 tr. express (greeting or farewell) in this way.
3 absol. (of two persons) touch each others' lips in this way.
4 tr. (also absol.) (of a snooker ball etc. in motion) lightly touch (another ball).
--n.
1 a touch with the lips in kissing.
2 the slight impact when one snooker ball etc. lightly touches another.
3 a small sweetmeat or piece of confectionery.

Idiom

kiss and tell recount one's sexual exploits. kiss a person's arse coarse sl. act obsequiously towards a person. kiss away remove (tears etc.) by kissing. kiss-curl a small curl of hair on the forehead, at the nape, or in front of the ear. kiss the dust submit abjectly; be overthrown. kiss goodbye to colloq. accept the loss of. kiss the ground prostrate oneself as a token of homage. kissing cousin (or kin or kind) a distant relative (given a formal kiss on occasional meetings). kissing-gate Brit. a gate hung in a V- or U-shaped enclosure, to let one person through at a time. kiss of death an apparently friendly act which causes ruin. kiss off sl.
1 dismiss, get rid of.
2 go away, die. kiss of life mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. kiss of peace Eccl. a ceremonial kiss, esp. during the Eucharist, as a sign of unity. kiss the rod accept chastisement submissively.

Derivative

kissable adj.

Etymology

OE cyssan f. Gmc

DEVIL DICTIONARY

Kiss

n. A word invented by the poets as a rhyme for "bliss." It is supposed to signify, in a general way, some kind of rite or ceremony appertaining to a good understanding; but the manner of its performance is unknown to this lexicographer.

THESAURUS

Kiss

abandon, accost, address, attouchement, bid good day, bid good morning, blow a kiss, bob, bow, bow to, breath, brush, brush by, buss, caress, come in contact, contact, contingence, curtsy, cutaneous sense, desert, dismiss, disregard, embrace, exchange greetings, feel, feeling, fingertip caress, flick, forsake, give up, glance, graze, greet, greeting, hail, hand-clasp, hand-mindedness, handshake, hello, hit, how-do-you-do, hug, ignore, impinge, impingement, impingence, kiss hands, lambency, lap, lick, lift the hat, light touch, lip, neck, nod, nod to, nudge, osculate, osculation, peck, pull the forelock, relinquish, renounce, repudiate, rub, salutation, salute, say hello, scrape, sense of touch, shake, shake hands, shave, sideswipe, skim, skirt, smack, smacker, smile, smile of recognition, smooch, spoon, squeak by, stroke, sweep, tactile sense, taction, tangency, tap, tentative contact, tentative poke, touch, touch lightly, touch the hat, touch upon, touching, uncover, wave, whisper

ROGET THESAURUS

Kiss

Courtesy

N courtesy, respect, good manners, good behavior, good breeding, manners, politeness, bienseance, urbanity, comity, gentility, breeding, polish, presence, civility, civilization, amenity, suavity, good temper, good humor, amiability, easy temper, complacency, soft tongue, mansuetude, condescension, affability, complaisance, pr_evenance, amability, gallantry, pink of politeness, pink of courtesy, compliment, fair words, soft words, sweet words, honeyed phrases, ceremonial salutation, reception, presentation, introduction, accueil, greeting, recognition, welcome, abord, respects, devoir, regards, remembrances, kind regards, kind remembrances, love, best love, duty, empty encomium, flattering remark, hollow commendation, salaams, obeisance, bow, courtesy, curtsy, scrape, salaam, kotow, kowtow, bowing and scraping, kneeling, genuflection, obsequiousness, capping, shaking hands grip of the hand, embrace, hug, squeeze, accolade, loving cup, vin d'honneur, pledge, love token, kiss, buss, salute, mark of recognition, nod, nods and becks and wreathed smiles, valediction, condolence, courteous, polite, civil, mannerly, urbane, well-behaved, well- mannered, well-bred, well-brought up, good-mannered, polished, civilized, cultivated, refined, gentlemanlike, gallant, on one's good behavior, fine spoken, fair spoken, soft-spoken, honey-mouthed, honey- tongued, oily, bland, obliging, conciliatory, complaisant, complacent, obsequious, ingratiating, winning, gentle, mild, good-humored, cordial, gracious, affable, familiar, neighborly, diplomatic, tactful, politic, artful, courteously, with a good grace, with open arms, with outstretched arms, a bras ouverts, suaviter in modo, in good humor, Int, hail!, welcome!, well met!, ave!, all hail!, good day, good morrow!, Godspeed!, pax vobiscum!, may your shadow never be less!, Tien de plus estimable que la ceremonie, the very pink of courtesy.

VB be courteous, show courtesy, mind one's P's and Q's, behave oneself, be all things to all men, conciliate, speak one fair, take in good part, make the amiable, do the amiable, look as if butter would not melt in one's mouth, mend one's manners, receive, do the honors, usher, greet, hail, bid welcome, welcome, welcome with open arms, shake hands, hold out the hand, press the hand, squeeze the hand, press the flesh, bid Godspeed, speed the parting guest, cheer, serenade, salute, embrace, kiss, kiss hands, drink to, pledge, hob and nob, move to, nod to, smile upon, uncover, cap, touch the hat, take off the hat, doff the cap, present arms, make way for, bow, make one's bow, make a leg, scrape, curtsy, courtesy, bob a curtsy, bob a courtesy, kneel, bow the knee, bend the knee, visit, wait upon, present oneself, pay one's respects, pay a visit, dance attendance on, pay attentions to, do homage to, prostrate oneself, give one's duty to, send one's duty to render polite, polish, civilize, humanize.

Endearment

N endearment, caress, blandishment, blandiment, panchement, fondling, billing and cooing, dalliance, necking, petting, sporting, sparking, hanky-panky, caressing, embrace, salute, kiss, buss, smack, osculation, deosculation, amorous glances, courtship, wooing, suit, addresses, the soft impeachment, lovemaking, serenading, caterwauling, flirting, flirtation, gallantry, coquetry, true lover's knot, plighted love, love tale, love token, love letter, billet-doux, valentine, honeymoon, Strephon and Chloe, caressing, sighing like furnace, love-sick, spoony, caressed, faint heart neer won fair lady, kisses honeyed by oblivion.

VB caress, fondle, pet, dandle, pat, pat on the head, pat on the cheek, chuck under the chin, smile upon, coax, wheedle, cosset, coddle, cocker, cockle, make of, make much of, cherish, foster, kill with kindness, clasp, hug, cuddle, fold in one's arms, strain in one's arms, nestle, nuzzle, embrace, kiss, buss, smack, blow a kiss, salute, fold to the heart, press to the bosom, bill and coo, spoon, toy, dally, flirt, coquet, gallivant, galavant, philander, make love, pay one's court to, pay one's addresses to, pay one's attentions to, serenade, court, woo, set one's cap at, be sweet upon, look sweet upon, ogle, cast sheep's eyes upon, faire les yeux doux, fall in love with, win the affections, die for, propose, make an offer, have an offer, pop the question, plight one's troth, plight one's faith.