DictionaryAI

paramour

SayPA-ruh-moor/ˈpæɹ.əˌmʊɚ/UK/ˈpæɹ.əˌmʊə/

Pluralparamours

4 meanings of paramour

Practice

  1. 1
    secret lovernounliterarycountable
    A man or woman who is someone's lover in a relationship that is not allowed.

    The rich man's wife ran away with her paramour, a young painter.

    They should be chaste, not lustful, nor taking paramours:
    1934, Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur'an: TextHere, paramours means lovers in relationships that are not allowed.

    Similarmistress, concubine

    Note
  2. 2
    adverbobsolete
    With strong sexual desire, used mostly about how someone loves another person.

    Similarpassionately

    Note
  3. 3
    divine lovernounobsolete
    Jesus or the Virgin Mary spoken of as a loved one, Jesus by a woman or Mary by a man.
    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    verbdated
    To have a love affair with someone you are not supposed to be with.
    The paramouring matron left / A babe and husband both bereft;
    1842, John de Jean Fraser, The Stranger in His Native PlaceHere, paramouring means having a love affair she should not have.

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Origin

It comes from an old French phrase meaning 'for love's sake.' English took the word in the Middle Ages.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts