Middle English Dictionary Entry
paramǒur(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | paramǒur(e n. Also par amur, paramoire, -mor(e, per amour & paramours, -mores, -murs; pl. paramour(e)s, -mor(e)s. |
| Etymology | From adv. phr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A mistress, concubine; wife; also fig.; (b) a male lover; husband; (c) as a term of endearment: darling, sweetheart, dear friend; (d) referring to Christ or the Virgin Mary; (e) ?scenes of love.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4057 : This gentil cok hadde in his gouernaunce Seuene hennes for to doon al his plesaunce Whiche were hise sustres and his paramours [vr. paramoures].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1372 : That kan an hurt deer from an hool knowe Bet than this somnour knewe a sly lecchour Or an auouter or a paramour.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.454 : My ferthe housbonde was a reuelour, This is to seyn he hadde a paramour.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.236 : For, nece..Ye ben the womman in this world lyvynge, Withouten paramours, to my wyttynge, That I best love.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)33/9 : Manye haþ þer ben þa for desire of heueneli richesses hauen ioifulli chosen pouerte to peramour.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)16/28 : He had a fayr damysele..to his paramour.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)24/7 : He hath as many paramours [Man.(2): lemmanes; F amies] as him lyketh.
- (?c1425) Hoccl.Jonathas (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)169 : A womman, a morsel of plesance..mette he..Shee was his paramour, shortley to seye.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)473 : If she be bonde and vndyr seruage..Hyr lord wyl I yeue ryht good wage, And to my paramour hyr vndyrfonge.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)582 : He wolde haue to hys paramoure Sum louely dynge dame.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)6770 : This Ioly syngers comynly be lecherous; They mow not lyve wyth-oute paramors [vrr. paramourse, paramores].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4337 : Oure paramours vs to plese ne pride þaim beweues.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)3830 : His paramowre..of all wemen þat þen was borne, of fayrnes myȝt scho beyre þe floure.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Vit.(1) (Vit A.16)270 : Person of Northam and his paramour.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)83/12 : No knyght may com there but he brynge hys wyff with hym othir hys paramoure.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)256/35 : I shall take the inchauntement frome hym, and than lette hym chose whych of us he woll have unto peramour.
- (1470) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1340 : It is ordined that noo Irisshe hostler, Irisshe nors..ne Irisshe paramour bi noo maner..within the citte.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11655 : I am..Paramour to thy body, Yt to cherysshe in al ffolye.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)2760 : A faire Suster y haue in my boure; I shall hir yiue the to paramoure.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)92a : A paramoure: philorcium..vbi lemman.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.40.85a : I haue founde a damysel..which ye were wont muche to cherische and love as youre owne paramoure.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)18 : This Henry helde a paramour besyde the quene, the whiche was called Rosamoundes Bowre.
- a1500 Pennyw.Wit(2) (Cmb Ff.2.38)74 : 'Telle me..haste þou a lemman or a wyfe?' 'Syr, y haue bothe..But my paramour loue y beste.'
- ?a1500 Trin-C.LEDict.Suppl.(Trin-C O.5.4)563/31 : Amica: a paramour.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1269 : Thei merveille how such a wiht, Which tho was in hir lusti age, Desireth nother Mariage Ne yit the love of paramours.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)17.107 : A mayde for a mannes loue here moder forsakeþ, Hure fader and hure frendes, and gooþ forth whith hure paramour [vr. paramours].
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5761 : For he off fairnesse bar awei the flour, Venus hym ches to been hir paramour.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)382 : Paramowre: Preamatus.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3769 : I, Alexander..To þe maistres out of Amazoyne..consall ȝow blyth To pas out with ȝour paramours & pere vs be-forne.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2549 : Floripe..prayde god, to kepe here paramour..Sir Gye.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)1815 : Hir paramours neiȝ ham bene, But a ryuer nys [read: ys] ham bitwene, And whem [read: when] ham lust haue solace of man, Ouer the water thei wille than.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)656/5 : This damesell loved sir Palomydes as her paramour.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)2025 : To be youres..I me present, As your paramoire entere.
c
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1534 : Mi perles paramourrs, my pleye & my ioye, spek to me spakli.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5537 : To þys barouns of gret honour Florippe..Cryinge gan to sayne..'Kepeþ wel Gyoun, my paramour, & bryngeþ him me aȝeyne.'
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5060 : Though she hym calle hir paramour, And laugheth on hym and makith hym feeste.
- a1450 Dux Moraud (BodPoet f.2)155 : But I prey þe þis oure, My der..paramowre.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)5698 : In guerdon of thy gret labour, I callede the my paramour.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)44/37 : Thu art my suete childe and paramoure.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)303 : Sche seyde, Launfal..Swetyng paramour, Þer nys no man..y loue so moche.
d
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)69 : For-þi blisce and þat paramour..saues me first in herth fra syn.
- a1450 Ihesu as þu (Sln 2593)p.55 : Jhesu is myn peramour; Blyssid be thi name, Jhesu.
- c1475 Regina celi qwene (Hrl 2251)52 : I am the faire doughter of Ierusalem, The kyng desired me to his towre, Dilectus meus, my paramour.
e
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)9973 : Þat hows [for Solomon's queen and concubines] was paynted with peramour, with resons ryall forto rede, And fowls fayre full of fauour.
2.
(a) Sexual passion or romantic love; (b) divine or spiritual love.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1758 : Þo louely makes..put hem for paramours in perriles so grete.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Co.(Manly-Rickert)A.4372 : He was as ful of loue and paramour As is the hyue ful of hony swete.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Th.(Manly-Rickert)B.2033 : Nedes moste he fighte With a geaunt with heuedes thre, For paramour [vr. paramours] and iolitee Of oon that shoon ful brighte.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1450 : Take hym a wyf..By cause of leueful procreacioun..And nat oonly for paramour [vr. paramours] or loue.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)700 : Þe play of paramorez, I portrayed myselven.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)7.186 : Þanne hadde we murye tales Of puterie and of paramours.
- a1450(?1404) As þe see (Dgb 102)125 : Honest play..is turned to vilonye, And paramour is turned to lecherye.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)23/27 : Loue waxith seek, makyng songis of paramowris, writyng letteris, sendyng ȝiftis, wowyng wt fayr wordis..& in quynte disgysynge to seme plesawnt & amyable.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)172 : He..pleynede hym one paramours and peteuosely syghede.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)5197 : Ouide..wikket werke in one boke..mad..The whiche book was of paramur, al forto teche men for to wow.
b
- c1390 Heil be þow Marie Moodur (Vrn)45 : Heil puyred princesse of paramour.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Say.Nightingale (Trin-C R.3.20)340 : O synful soule..taken keepe Of his peynes..Forsaake þe worlde..And to þe gardeyn of parfyt paramours Maake þy passage..And in þat gardyn beo contemplatyff.
3.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (1297) Pat.R.Edw.I241 : William Paramour.
- (1301) Nickname in LuSE 55138 : Rog.Paramurs.
- (1305) Feet Fines Sus.in Sus.RS 71189 : Rogerum Paramur.