suitors
Those seeking hands
Suitors is the plural of suitor—someone who pursues another romantically, especially with marriage in mind.
The word sounds old-fashioned, evoking a time when courtship was more formal: She had many suitors but chose none of them.
In legal contexts, a suitor is a party bringing a lawsuit.
In business, suitors are companies attempting to acquire another: The tech startup attracted several suitors.
One who esteems another
- beauMale romantic companion
- swainRural romantic pursuer
- wooerOne who courts another
- paramourLover in secret affair
gallant · lover · pursuer · flame · heartthrob · escort · gentleman caller · fiancé
Offer of matrimony
- betrothalFormal marriage agreement
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- askingPosing questions
- offerProposal to provide
hand in marriage · pledge · promise · dowry · bride price · trousseau · matchmaking · arrangement
One striving against others
- rivalOne who competes against
- contenderOne competing seriously
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
- opponentOne who contends against
adversary · contestant · combatant · jealousy · competition · vying · love triangle · duel
Continuing despite difficulty
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- patienceCalm during delays
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
constancy · devotion · steadfastness · perseverance · ardor · longing · yearning · pining
One who formally requests
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- claimantOne asserting entitlement
- appellantOne who appeals
- applicantOne who formally requests
litigant · complainant · party · seeker · requester · supplicant · intervenor · bidder
admirer
One who esteems another
paramour · gallant · lover · pursuer · flame · heartthrob · escort · gentleman caller · fiancé · betrothed
marriage proposal
Offer of matrimony
- betrothalFormal marriage agreement
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- askingPosing questions
hand in marriage · offer · pledge · promise · dowry · bride price · trousseau · matchmaking · arrangement · alliance
competitor
One striving against others
- rivalOne who competes against
- contenderOne competing seriously
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
opponent · adversary · contestant · combatant · jealousy · competition · vying · love triangle · duel · jousting
persistence
Continuing despite difficulty
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- patienceCalm during delays
dedication · constancy · devotion · steadfastness · perseverance · ardor · longing · yearning · pining · wooing
petitioner
One who formally requests
applicant · litigant · complainant · party · seeker · requester · supplicant · intervenor · bidder · proposer
- courtshipcourting, courtship, betrothal, wooing, courtship rituals
- OdysseyOdysseus, Penelope, Telemachus, Ithaca, Homer
- Elizabethan comedyTwelfth Night, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice
- personalspersonal ads, personals, SWM, classified ads, dating profile
- regency romancecourtship, marriage plot, proposal, betrothal, eligible bachelor
- Regency SocietyRegency, manners, etiquette, courtship, ballrooms
- rival suitorsCompeting romantic pursuers