חָבַב I (b. h.) [to be arched; denom. חוֹב II;] to bosom, love.
    Pi. - חִיבֵּב, חִבֵּב 1) same, same, to love, cherish; with לפני or בפני, to prefer. Ex. R. s. 27; Tanḥ. Yithro 4 Yithro is named חוֹבָב, שח׳ את וכ׳ because he loved the Law; Sifré Num. 78. Sabb. 13ᵇ היו מְחַבְּבִין את הצרות they cherished the memory of past troubles (devoting memorial days to the relief from them). Ib. 51ᵃ, a. e. כמה מחבבין זה את זה how they honor each other. Pes. 100ᵃ בכל יום היית מחבב … בפני thou didst always prefer my opinions to those of R. J., and now thou embracest his opinion in my presence; Y. ib. X, beg. 37ᵇ; Tosef. Ber. V, 2; a. fr. —2) (denom. of חָבִיב) to make beloved. Gen. R. s. 39 כדי לחַבְּבָהּ בעיניו in order to make him feel the dearness of home; כדי לחַבְּבוֹ וכ׳ to make him feel how dear was his son to him.