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):

  (file)

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

  (file)

paramour (plural paramours)

1. (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

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.

• out-paramour

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, [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 (in Middle English):

     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.