paramour

[par-uh-moor]

noun

1. an illicit lover, especially of a married person.

2. any lover.

paramour

/ ˈpærəˌmʊə /

noun

1. derogatory,  a lover, esp an adulterous woman

2. an archaic word for beloved

Word History and Origins

Origin of paramour¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from the phrase par amour “by love, through love,” from Old French par “by, through” (from Latin per per ( def. ) ) + amo(u)r “love” ( amour ( def. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of paramour¹

C13: from Old French, literally: through love

Example Sentences

Often, a Housewife will end one season in a promising new relationship, only for their paramour to be cut loose by the next, when new romances blossom alongside fresh opening taglines.

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Of course, it was just to help his paramour Kate escape her father’s evil clutches.

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The priest assures his paramour that he does not require love in return for Jérémie’s freedom, only the occasional stroll through the woods or conversation.

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His lawyers claim he’s being falsely accused, maintaining that the weapon was a prop he took from the set of a music video filmed with his paramour, the pop star Rihanna.

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When Mayers arrived for court around 9:45 a.m., he was flanked by his usual entourage and mobbed by media, but his paramour was nowhere in sight.

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Related Words

• admirer 
• beau 
• concubine 
• lover 
• mistress 
• sweetheart