# paramour
## English
### Alternative forms

* paramours

### Etymology

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

* (UK) IPA: /ˈpæ.ɹə.mʊə/, /ˈpæ.ɹə.mɔː/
* (US) IPA: /ˈpæɹəmɔɹ/
    Audio (US, without the Mary–marry–merry merger):(file)
    Audio (US, Mary–marry–merry merger):(file)
* Hyphenation: par‧a‧mour

### Noun

paramour (plural paramours)
* (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
* (obsolete) The Virgin Mary or Jesus Christ (when addressed by a person of the opposite sex).

#### Derived terms

* out-paramour the Turk

#### Translations
### Verb

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

* out-paramour

### Adverb

paramour (not comparable)
* (obsolete, of loving, etc.) Passionately, out of sexual desire.
    Synonyms: devotedly, passionately

### Further reading

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

## Middle English
### Alternative forms

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

### Etymology

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

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˌparaˈmuːr/, /ˈparamur/, /ˈparəmur/

### Adverb

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

* English: paramour (obsolete)

#### References

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

### Noun

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

#### Descendants

* English: paramour

#### References

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