Paramour
/ˈpær.ə.mʊər/noun
A lover, especially one involved in an illicit or extramarital affair.
Did you know?Paramour entered English through Old French as a term for a lover, and its structure reflects the idea of love happening “by/through” someone, not a magical origin but a very old, intimate one.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
per
“through, by means of”
Old French
Old French
par amour
“through love; in love”
14th Century
English
paramour
“a lover, especially an illicit one”
Modern English
English
paramour
“a lover, especially one involved in an affair”