A kiss is the act of pressing one's lips against the lips or other body parts of another person or of an object. Cultural connotations of kissing vary widely. Depending on the culture and context, a kiss can express sentiments of love, passion, affection, respect, greeting, friendship and good luck, among many others. In some situations a kiss is a ritual, formal or symbolic gesture indicating devotion, respect or greeting, as in the case of spouses kissing at the conclusion of a wedding ceremony or national leaders kissing each other in greeting, and in many other situations.
Depending on the culture, relationship and context, a person may kiss another on their lips, cheek, head, hand and each of these gestures may carry a different social significance. The word came from Old English cyssan (“to kiss”), in turn from coss (“a kiss”).
Read more about Kiss: Expression of Affection and Love, History, Types, Kiss As Ritual, Contemporary Practices, Legality, In Religion, Biology and Evolution
Famous quotes containing the word kiss:
“One seems to believe almost all that they believe; and when they stop short and call it a Religion, and you pass on, and call it only a reminiscence of one, should you not part with the kiss of peace?”
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881)
“I kiss my wailing child and press it to my breast,
And hear the narrow graves calling my child and me.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“The sick do not ask if the hand that smoothes their pillow is pure, nor the dying care if the lips that touch their brow have known the kiss of sin.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)