paramour

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: par=a=mour

CIDE DICTIONARY

paramour, n. [F. par amour, lit., by or with love. See 2d Par, and Amour.].

•  A lover, of either sex; a wooer or a mistress (formerly in a good sense, now only in a bad one); one who takes the place, without possessing the rights, of a husband or wife; -- used of a man or a woman.  [1913 Webster]

  "The seducer appeared with dauntless front, accompanied by his paramour"  [1913 Webster]
•  Love; gallantry.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

paramour, adv. 

 By or with love, esp. the love of the sexes; -- sometimes written as two words.  [1913 Webster]
"For par amour, I loved her first ere thou."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

paramour, n. archaic or derog. an illicit lover of a married person.

Etymology

ME f. OF par amour by love

THESAURUS

paramour

Casanova, admirer, adorer, amorist, concubine, doxy, follower, infatuate, kept mistress, kept woman, lover, mistress, playmate, pursuer, suitor, unofficial wife, woman, wooer

ROGET THESAURUS

paramour

Love

N love, fondness, liking, inclination, regard, dilection, admiration, fancy, affection, sympathy, fellow-feeling, tenderness, heart, brotherly love, benevolence, attachment, yearning, eros, tender passion, amour, gyneolatry, gallantry, passion, flame, devotion, fervor, enthusiasm, transport of love, rapture, enchantment, infatuation, adoration, idolatry, Cupid, Venus, myrtle, true lover's knot, love token, love suit, love affair, love tale, love story, the, old story, plighted love, courtship, amourette, free love, maternal love, storge, parental love, young love, puppy love, attractiveness, popularity, favorite, lover, suitor, follower, admirer, adorer, wooer, amoret, beau, sweetheart, inamorato, swain, young man, flame, love, truelove, leman, Lothario, gallant, paramour, amoroso, cavaliere servente, captive, cicisbeo, caro sposo, inamorata, ladylove, idol, darling, duck, Dulcinea, angel, goddess, cara sposa, betrothed, affianced, fiancee, flirt, coquette, amorette, pair of turtledoves, abode of love, agapemone, loving, fond of, taken with, struck with, smitten, bitten, attached to, wedded to, enamored, charmed, in love, love-sick, over head and ears in love, head over heels in love, affectionate, tender, sweet upon, sympathetic, loving, amorous, amatory, fond, erotic, uxorious, ardent, passionate, rapturous, devoted, motherly, loved, beloved well beloved, dearly beloved, dear, precious, darling, pet, little, favorite, popular, congenial, after one's mind, after one's taste, after one's fancy, after one's own heart, to one's mind, to one's taste, to one's fancy, to one's own heart, in one's good graces, dear as the apple of one's eye, nearest to one's heart, lovable, adorable, lovely, sweet, attractive, seductive, winning, charming, engaging, interesting, enchanting, captivating, fascinating, bewitching, amiable, like an angel, amantes amentes, credula res amor est, militat omnis amasius, love conquers all, omnia vincit amor, si vis amari ama, the sweetest joy, the wildest woe.