lover

Etymology 1

From Middle English lovere, luffer, lufere, equivalent to love + -er.

noun

1. One who loves and cares for another person in a romantic way; a sweetheart, love, soulmate, boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse.
   Well there's a wide wide world of noble causes / And lovely landscapes to discover / But all I really want to do right now / Is find another lover 1976, Joni Mitchell (lyrics and music), “Song For Sharon”, in Hejira
   Now, there's one in California who's been cursing my name / 'Cause I found me a better lover in the UK, hey, hey / Until I made my getaway 23 September 2014, Elle King, Dave Bassett, “Ex's & Oh's”, in Love Stuff, performed by Elle King
   We can only hurt each other the way that lovers can / So where do we go, where do we hide now? 2016, David Boulter, Stuart A. Staples (lyrics and music), “Like Only Lovers Can”, in The Waiting Room, performed by Tindersticks
2. A sexual partner, especially one with whom someone is having an affair.
   2018 January 17, "Libra Woman: Personality Traits: Love & More", Astrology.com http://www.astrology.com/libra-woman.html A Libra woman seems to always be in love - either with her long term partner or with an ever-changing series of rotating lovers.
3. A person who loves something.
   a lover of fine wines
   a lover of his/her own country
4. (West Country, with "my") An informal term of address for any friend.
   All right, me lover?

Etymology 2

noun

1. Obsolete form of louver.