Love Defined (By Not Being Defined At All)

"I do."

These are the (in)famous words that formally seal two people into the contract of marriage. Considering these words out of the question that gives them context (Do you take this person to be your lawfully wedded husband/wife?), I believe I've found what I would consider the true nature of love.

Consider the (lengthy and involved) definition of "do":
do¹ ( P ) Pronunciation Key (d)
v. did, (dd) done, (dn) do·ing, does (dz)
v. tr.

1. 1. To perform or execute: do one's assigned task; do a series of business deals.
   2. To fulfill the requirements of: did my duty at all times.
   3. To carry out; commit: a crime that had been done on purpose.
2. 1. To produce, especially by creative effort: do a play on Broadway.
   2. To play the part or role of in a creative production: did Elizabeth I in the film.
   3. To mimic: “doing the Southern voice, improvising it inventively as he goes along” (William H. Pritchard).
3. 1. To bring about; effect: Crying won't do any good now.
   2. To render; give: do equal justice to the opposing sides; do honor to one's family.
4. To put forth; exert: Do the best you can.
5. 1. To attend to in such a way as to take care of or put in order: did the bedrooms before the guests arrived.
   2. To prepare for further use especially by washing: did the dishes.
6. 1. To set or style (the hair).
   2. To apply cosmetics to: did her face.
7. To have as an occupation or profession: Have you decided what you will do after college?
8. To work out by studying: do a homework assignment.
9. Used as a substitute for an antecedent verb: He can play the piano, and I can do that, too.
10. Informal.
    1. To travel (a specified distance): do a mile in four minutes.
    2. To make a tour of; visit: “ [He] did 15 countries of Western Europe in only a few days” (R.W. Apple, Jr.).
11. 1. To be sufficient in meeting the needs of; serve: This room will do us very nicely.
    2. Informal. To serve (a prison term): did time in jail; did five years for tax fraud.
12. Slang. To cheat; swindle: do a relative out of an inheritance.
13. Slang. To take (drugs) illegally: “If you do drugs you are going to be in continual trouble” (Jimmy Breslin).
14. Slang. To kill; murder.
15. Vulgar Slang. To have sex with; bring to orgasm.

v. intr.

1. To behave or conduct oneself; act: Do as I say and you won't get into trouble.
2. 1. To get along; fare: students who do well at school.
   2. To carry on; manage: I could do without your interference.
   3. To make good use of something because of need: I could do with a hot bath.
3. 1. To serve a specified purpose: This coat will do for another season.
   2. To be proper or fitting: Such behavior just won't do.
4. To take place; happen: What's doing in London this time of year?
5. Used as a substitute for an antecedent verb: worked as hard as everyone else did.
6. Used after another verb for emphasis: Run quickly, do!

v. aux.

1. Used with the infinitive without to in questions, negative statements, and inverted phrases: Do you understand? I did not sleep well. Little did we know what was in store for us.
2. Used as a means of emphasis: I do want to be sure.

To "do" is the ultimate verb. To "do" is the ultimate word of action. It, in itself, implies action in the most varied and general form.

Combined with the self identifier "I", the phrase "I do" can be read as "The person who I am will perform/execute/fullfill the requirments of/committ/produce/play the part or role of/ bring about/render/ bring forth/ attend to/ prepare for/ to have sex with/ etc... in order to express my love for you, my spouse."

In these terms, marriage, as the sanctity that is a formal representation of the love between two people, is defined by action, not language. The words "I do" exist as an opened ended indicator of the potential and required action that is integral to the contract of marriage. The words "I do" imply a committment to action in order to express love.

If we consider marriage as the ultimate act that two people perform to express their love for each other, Love is not defined by merely telling someone "I love you", but is truly expressed through the words "I do", and these words only have meaning in the fact that they imply action. Following this argument, we can conclude that love is ultimately about action, and not about words.

For me personally, such an examination has led me to the following:

Love as a word is meaningless. Love as an action means so very very much.

Love can not be defined by other words. Love can only be defined by action.