Belamour

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person with whom one shares a deep romantic bond characterized by mutual affection and emotional intimacy
2. An affectionate partner entangled in a cherished relationship marked by admiration and devotion
3. A significant other who signifies profound love through emotional connection and heartfelt interactions

Etymology: "Belamour" is an English noun for a beloved romantic partner, borrowed from Middle French "bel amour," which means "fair love" or "beautiful love." The phrase combines "bel," the Old French form of "beau" (beautiful, handsome), with "amour" (love), a word that came into French from Latin "amor." The phrase was used in courtly and poetic contexts, where "bel amour" described a lover held in refined affection. English took the term over as a single word, keeping its French look while retaining the sense of a cherished partner rather than simply a feeling. Because the word is a direct borrowing of an intact French phrase, its spelling and pronunciation still show their origin, with the "bel" and "amour" sounds almost recognisable to anyone who knows French.