paramour
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English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle English paramour, paramoure, peramour, paramur, from Old French par amor (“for love's sake”). The modern pronunciation is apparently an Early Modern English readaptation of the French.
Pronunciation[edit]
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpæ.ɹə.mʊə/, /ˈpæ.ɹə.mɔː/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈpæɹəmɔɹ/
- (Mary–marry–merry distinction)
Audio (US) (file) - (Mary–marry–merry merger)
Audio (US) (file)
- (Mary–marry–merry distinction)
Noun[edit]
paramour (plural paramours)
- (somewhat archaic) An illicit lover, either male or female.
- Synonyms: leman, mistress; see also Thesaurus:mistress
- to run away with a paramour
- 1848, Thomas Maucalay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second:
- The seducer appeared with dauntless front, accompanied by his paramour.
- 1934, Yusuf Ali, transl., The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary, surah 4, verse 25:
- They should be chaste, not lustful, nor taking paramours:
- 2016 February 23, Robbie Collin, “Grimsby review: ' Sacha Baron Cohen's vital, venomous action movie'”, in The Daily Telegraph (London):
- The action scenes are deafening and punchily staged by director Louis Letterier (The Transporter), though I wish he’d set more time aside to spend with Nobby, his paramour Dawn (Rebel Wilson), their shaven-headed brood, and friends
- (obsolete) The Virgin Mary or Jesus Christ (when addressed by a person of the opposite sex).
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
illicit lover
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Verb[edit]
paramour (third-person singular simple present paramours, present participle paramouring, simple past and past participle paramoured)
- To go with a paramour; to have an affair.
- 1842, John de Jean Fraser, The Stranger in His Native Place:
- The paramouring matron left / A babe and husband both bereft;
- 2011, Joanna L. Grossman, Lawrence M. Friedman, Inside the Castle, Princeton University Press, →ISBN:
- This meant it could even call in "third party 'paramours'" and tell them to quit their paramouring.
Derived terms[edit]
Adverb[edit]
paramour (not comparable)
- (obsolete, of loving, etc.) Passionately, out of sexual desire.
- Synonyms: devotedly, passionately
Further reading[edit]
- paramour on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
- “paramour”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
Middle English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- paramoire, paramore, par amour, paramoure, par amoure, paramoures, paramours, par amours, paramowre, paramur, par amur, paramurs, peramour, peramoures, peramowre
Etymology[edit]
Borrowed from Old French par amour (“for love's sake”); equivalent to par- + amour.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adverb[edit]
paramour
- In a loving or sexual way; amorously, passionately.
- Synonym: amorously
- 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:
- For paramour I loved her fyrst ere thou.
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “liij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book X:
- Is this trouthe said Palomydes / Thenne shall we hastely here of sire Tristram / And as for to say that I loue la Beale Isoud peramours I dare make good that I doo / and that she hath my seruyse aboue alle other ladyes / and shalle haue the terme of my lyf
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- In a kind or caring way; affectionately.
- Please (used to make a request)
Descendants[edit]
- English: paramour (obsolete)
References[edit]
- “par amǒur(e, adverbial phr.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Noun[edit]
paramour (plural paramours)
- A lover; a sexual or romantic partner:
- Sexual, romantic or (less often) spiritual passion.
- (rare, figurative) Used of Jesus or Mary
Descendants[edit]
- English: paramour
References[edit]
- “paramǒur(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
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