mavourneen

or ma·vour·nin

[ muh-voor-neen, -vawr-, -vohr- ]

/ məˈvʊər nin, -ˈvɔr-, -ˈvoʊr- /

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noun Irish English.

darling; dear.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of mavourneen

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

Words nearby mavourneen

mauve decade, maven, maverick, mavis, Mavors, mavourneen, mavun, maw, mawger, mawkin, mawkish

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mavourneen in a sentence

Lady Mavourneen, who tells a little story with great humor, described a scene in a crowded church in Paris.
From the Easy Chair, series 2|George William Curtis
The courtesy which Lady Mavourneen observed in the railway station and in the street was plain, but it was genuine.
From the Easy Chair, series 2|George William Curtis
"It's quite all right, mavourneen," he assured her mischievously.
Kenny|Leona Dalrymple
Your father will be sorry you take it like that, mavourneen.
The Grey Wig: Stories and Novelettes|Israel Zangwill

One is not surprised at their being addressed by such mellifluous epithets as Cushla machree, asthore, mavourneen!
Romantic Ireland; volume 2/2|M.F and B. McM. Mansfield

British Dictionary definitions for mavourneen

mavourneen

mavournin

/ (məˈvʊəniːn) /

noun

Irish my darling

Word Origin for mavourneen

C18: from Irish, from mo my + muirnīn love

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