Dictionary

amour en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /əˈmʊɹ/ (US)
• /-ˈmoɹ/ (US)
• /aˈmʊə/ (UK)
• /ɑˈmʊɹ/ (US)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /əˈmʊə/ (UK)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₃emh₃-der. Proto-Italic *amāō Latin amō Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *-ōs Proto-Italic *-ōs Latin -or Latin amōrem Old French amor Middle French amourbor. Middle English amour ▲ French amourinflu. English amour Inherited from Middle English amour, from Middle French amour, from Old French amor, from Latin amor. The modern pronunciation is due to continual French influence; the expected pronunciation would be /ˈæmə(ɹ)/; compare enamour, enamoured.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) Courtship; flirtation.
   • Perhaps Daisy never went in for amour at all—and yet there's something in that voice of hers…. 1925, F[rancis] Scott Fitzgerald, chapter 4, in The Great Gatsby, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner’s Sons, published 1953, →ISBN, pages 78–79:
2. (countable, uncountable) A love affair.
   • The amours of the greater scaup are, if anything, even more varied. 1990 October 26, Jerry Sullivan, “Field & Street”, in Chicago Reader:
   • Jones had mentioned the Fact of his Amour, and of his being the Rival of Blifil, but had cautiously concealed the Name of the young Lady. 1749, Henry Fielding, “A Dialogue between Mr. Jones and the Barber”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume III, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book VIII, page 180:
3. (countable, uncountable) A lover.
   • ‘Dulce, will you go to the masquerade-ball to night?’ said I to my lesser-half, on a bright evening during the gayest part of the ‘carnival season.’ / ‘No, my amor,’ answered she; ‘I am ill this evening; do n’t go out to-night, but stay by my side, and let your cheering presence save a doctor’s fee.’ 1845 May 14, Ned Buntline, “A Night-Adventure in Cuba”, in The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, volume XXV, number 4, New York, N.Y.: […] John Allen, […], page 326:
   • Makes you wonder how they were able to see their amours, or their hands... 2000 December 29, James McManus, “The Winter Casino”, in Chicago Reader:
4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Love, affection.

Forms

Deriveds

amourist

Relateds

metamour · d'Amour · paramour · amour propre · enamour · amourette · amorous