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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

"She has only fainted, mavourneen," said Kate O'Brien, in a tender tone, for she at last realized that it would be worse than useless to contend against the majesty of the law.

From The Masked Bridal by Mrs. Georgie Sheldon

“Sit where I can see you, mavourneen; it is all the healing I need.”

From Paddy-The-Next-Best-Thing by Gertrude Page

You see, mavourneen, it's a long time since she was anything but a trouble to people.'

From Love of Brothers by Katharine Tynan

“It’s not so bad at all, mavourneen, praise be to God,” she said.

From The Irish Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins

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