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mavourneen

American  
[muh-voor-neen, -vawr-, -vohr-] / məˈvʊər nin, -ˈvɔr-, -ˈvoʊr- /
Or mavournin

noun

Irish English.
  1. darling; dear.


mavourneen British  
/ məˈvʊəniːn /

noun

  1. my darling

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of mavourneen

First recorded in 1790–1800, mavourneen is from Irish mo mhuirnín “my darling”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

He kept saying, Rasheen, Rasheen, mavourneen mean, and the song made no sense because his father dropped him on his head long ago and every time he sang that song he had different words.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt

Read us one more letther, mavourneen, before ye are off, and lave the book here.

From Live to be Useful or, The Story of Annie Lee and her Irish Nurse by Anonymous

Then, after a pause, 'Libby, mavourneen, you'd be a grand hand at managin' a little store; now the one at the "Corner" 'll be shut.

From Cedar Creek From the Shanty to the Settlement by Walshe, Elizabeth Hely

Good day to ye, mavourneen; we must part here, for fear we’re seen by any lynx-eyed blackguards.

From The Golden Dream Adventures in the Far West by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)

"Ah, mavourneen, may yez never see that day!" nurse Walsh murmurs with passionate fondness, as she takes the girl's hand between her own broad palms and presses and fondles it.

From Only an Irish Girl by Duchess

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