different between amorous vs paramour

English

Alternative forms

• amourous

Etymology

From Middle English amorous, amerous (14th century), from Old French amoros, amoreus, from Medieval Latin am?r?sus, from Latin amor (“love”), related to am?re (“to love”). Compare French amoureux (“in love”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?æ.m??s/, /?æ.m?.??s/

Adjective

amorous (comparative more amorous, superlative most amorous)

1. Inclined or having a propensity to love, or to sexual enjoyment.

   • Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of mauve-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden bees; she saw a crimson cardinal winging through the foliage, and amorous tanagers flashing like scarlet flames athwart the pines.

   Synonyms: loving, fond, affectionate

2. Indicating love or sexual desire.
   • 1929, Robert Dean Frisbee, The Book of Puka-Puka (republished by Eland, 2019; p. 218):

     There was no tune to it, only amorous gruntings like those of some old satyr who had furnished music for Circe's revels.

3. Of or relating to, or produced by, love.

4. (dated) Affected with love; in love; enamored.

Synonyms

• concupiscent
• lustful

Derived terms

• amorously

Related terms

• amour

Translations

References

• amorous in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• amorous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Alternative forms

• paramours

Etymology

From Middle English paramour, paramoure, peramour, paramur, from Old French par amor (“for love's sake”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?pæ.??.m??/, /?pæ.??.m??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?pæ??m??/

  (Mary–marry–merry distinction)

  (Mary–marry–merry merger)

Noun

paramour (plural paramours)

1. (somewhat archaic) An illicit lover, either male or female.

   Synonyms: leman, mistress; see also Thesaurus:mistress
2. (obsolete) The Virgin Mary or Jesus Christ (when addressed by a person of the opposite sex).

Translations

Adverb

paramour (not comparable)

1. (obsolete, of loving, etc.) Passionately, out of sexual desire. [from 14^thc.]

   Synonyms: devotedly, passionately

   • For paramour I loved her fyrst ere thou.

Further reading

• paramour on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• “paramour”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.