The Rice University Neologisms Database

Showing appreciation, gratitude, or (usually platonic) love This verb tends to only be used in the present active tense, and 98% of the time in first person singular. Origin: Internet (and graffiti) shorthand coming into speech patterns. It is common to use “[subject] <3 [direct object]” as an abbreviation for “[subject] love [direct object]” in Internet chat-speak, and even more common in the Internet’s shorthand predecessor, graffiti. Recently, the word “heart,” in reference to the <3 symbol, has worked its way into informal speech. Source: It has become a common catchphrase among many of my friends, especially the Lovett powder-puff football team, in the past 3-4 weeks. Example: “I heart lunch today, it tastes so much better than it normally does.”