maugre

See also: maugré

English

WOTD – 12 February 2009

Alternative forms

• magre [14th–19th c.]
• malgre
• mauger [14th–18th c.]
• maulgre [14th–17th c.]

Etymology

From Middle English maugre, from Anglo-Norman malgré, from mal (“bad”) + gre (“pleasure, grace”) (from Old French, from Latin gratum).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔː.ɡə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔɡɚ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔːɡə(ɹ)

Preposition

maugre

1. (obsolete) Notwithstanding; in spite of. [from 14th c.]
   • 1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 31:

     He chains the Deev in the centre of the inountain, and at the suit of Merjan hastens to attack another powerful Deev named Houdkonz; but here, alas! fortune deserts him, and, maugre his talismans and enchanted arms, the gallant Tahmuras falls beneath his foe.

Synonyms

• despite, regardless of; see also Thesaurus:despite

Translations

in spite of — see in spite of

Adverb

maugre (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) Notwithstanding, despite everything. [14th–17th c.]
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, book III, canto xi:

     cruell Mulciber would not obay / His threatfull pride, but did the more augment / His mighty rage, and with imperious sway / Him forst (maulgre) his fiercenesse to relent, / And backe retire […]

Synonyms

• even so, nonetheless, withal; see also Thesaurus:nevertheless

Noun

maugre (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) Ill will; spite.

Anagrams

• Gaumer, Mauger, mauger, murage