אָהַב (b. h.; √הב; cmp. חבב) to love. Y. Ab. Zar. II beg. 40ᶜ אוֹהֲבָהּ her lover; a. fr. אוהב את הבריות philanthropist. Aboth I, 12; a. fr.—Part. pass. אָהוּב, f. אֲהוּבָה. Yeb. 23ᵃ א׳ בנשואיה beloved (worth loving) for her well chosen marriage. [Y. Ab. Zar. l. c. איהבתו read אוֹהַבְתֹּו.]
    Nif. - נֶאֱהַב, , Hithpa. הִתְאָהֵב to be beloved, popular. Lev. R. s. 32, beg., these blows (of persecution) had the effect להֵאָהֵב וכ׳ to make me beloved of my Father in heaven. Yoma 86ᵃ שיהא ש"ש מִתְאָהֵב וכ׳ that the Divine Name may be beloved through thee (that thy doings may favorably reflect on thy religion).—
    Pi. - אִהֵב,
    Hif. - הֶאֱהִיב to make beloved, popular. Tan. d’be El. I, 28 תהא מְאָהֵב ש"ש וכ׳ make the Divine Name &c. (v. supra).—Part. Pu. מְאוּהָב popular. Yalk. Deut. 837.—Cant. R. to I, 1 להַאֲהִיבָן (לאָהֲבָן) לקרבן וכ׳ to make them beloved (of God), draw them nigh (to God) &c. Ib. to V, 1.—Yalk. Cant. 981 הֶאֱהַבְנוּ לך עלמות הרבה we have made many maiden beloved of thee (converted them).