different between playfellow vs paramour

English

Etymology

play +? fellow

Noun

playfellow (plural playfellows)

1. (dated) playmate; companion for someone (especially children) to play with.
   • 1922, Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit

     "I’ve brought you a new playfellow," the Fairy said. "You must be very kind to him and teach him all he needs to know in Rabbitland, for he is going to live with you for ever and ever!"

   • 1912: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes, Chapter 5

     Now she was within ten feet of the two unsuspecting little playfellows--carefully she drew her hind feet well up beneath her body, the great muscles rolling under the beautiful skin.

   • 1847, Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, chapter XIX:

     "Linton is just six months younger than I am, {...} How delightful it will be to have him for a playfellow!"

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.