paramour
PARE-uh-moor
/ˈpærəmʊər/
A lover, especially the illicit partner of a married person.
Carries a sense of drama and illicit passion. It is more poetic than 'mistress' or 'lover.'
The story behind the word. From the Old French phrase 'par amour,' meaning 'through love' or 'by way of love.' Originally, it could mean 'devoutly' or 'faithfully,' but by the 14th century, it shifted to mean a secret or illicit lover.
Word relationships
- mistress: Specifically refers to a woman in a long-term relationship with a married man.
- lover: The most neutral and common term.
- spouse: A husband or wife, considered in relation to their partner.
Commonly confused with
- partner: Partner implies a legitimate, often public relationship; paramour implies an illicit one.
Collocations
- secret paramour
- royal paramour
Example sentences
- "He secretly visited his paramour in the cottage by the lake every Tuesday." A historical novel.
- "The knight's devotion to his paramour was the subject of many local ballads." A classic literary description.
Memory hook
A PARAMOUR is someone you have MORE AMOUR (love) for than your spouse. The secret lover.
When not to use
Very rare in modern conversation; sounds overly dramatic or pretentious in casual speech.
Fun facts
- In Middle English, 'paramour' could also be used as an adverb meaning 'passionately.'
Explore more words
amorous, unrequited, illicit, infidelity, enamor, passionate
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