paramour

• paramours

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.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpæ.ɹə.mʊə/, /ˈpæ.ɹə.mɔː/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpæɹəmɔɹ/

  Audio (US, without the Mary–marry–merry merger):

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  Audio (US, Mary–marry–merry merger):

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• Audio (General American):

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• Hyphenation: par‧a‧mour

paramour (plural paramours)

1. (somewhat dated) 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

2. (obsolete) The Virgin Mary or Jesus Christ (when addressed by a person of the opposite sex).

paramour (third-person singular simple present paramours, present participle paramouring, simple past and past participle paramoured)

1. 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.

paramour (not comparable)

1. (obsolete, of loving, etc.) Passionately, out of sexual desire.

   Synonyms: devotedly, passionately

• paramour on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• “paramour”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

• paramoire, paramore, par amour, paramoure, par amoure, paramoures, paramours, par amours, paramowre, paramur, par amur, paramurs, peramour, peramoures, peramowre

Borrowed from Old French par amour (“for love's sake”); equivalent to par- +‎ amour.

• IPA^(key): /ˌparaˈmuːr/, /ˈparamur/, /ˈparəmur/

paramour

1. In a loving or sexual way; amorously, passionately.

   Synonym: amorously

   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, , →OCLC; republished in , editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, , : 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)

2. In a kind or caring way; affectionately.
3. Please (used to make a request)

• English: paramour (obsolete)

• “par amǒur(e, adverbial phr.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

paramour (plural paramours)

1. A lover; a sexual or romantic partner:
   1. A paramour; an illicit sexual or romantic partner.
   2. A term of address for someone that one loves.
2. Sexual, romantic or (less often) spiritual passion.
3. (rare, figurative) Used of Jesus or Mary

• English: paramour

• “paramǒur(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.