Michael Paterniti

As a kid, I watched 'Bugs Bunny' cartoons, and for some reason Pepe Le Pew, the indomitable French skunk pursuing his would-be kitty paramour, left his mark on me: became an instant emblem of odoriferous hubris, hedonistic bad behavior. He was an entry-level Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a rookie Marquis de Sade.

American Writer

Kate Leth

I loved Tristan in Nancy Collins' run. I love Vampirella having a werewolf paramour; it's too fun. Coleridge had to come with them, of course, to set up her spooky new manor up in the hills of Los Angeles, and also because he's just a delight.

Canadian Artist

Roxane Gay

I was in love with the idea of love, so I created elaborate fictions for my relationships - fictions that allowed me to believe that what any given paramour and I shared looked a lot like love.

Samin Nosrat

Friends have warned me that I can be a bully in the kitchen. With every fledgling relationship, I'm anxiously aware that the simple act of cooking alongside my new paramour can unleash havoc.

American Chef

Paramour is used when the relationship is hidden from others, often due to its illicit nature.

Concealed Relationship

The term usually implies that at least one person involved is cheating on their spouse or partner.

Infidelity Implied

Paramour often carries a negative judgment and is used to express disapproval.

Negative Connotation

Use 'paramour' for relationships where at least one person is married to someone else.

Specifically Extramarital

Unlike other terms, 'paramour' doesn't always mean the relationship is secret.

Secrecy Not Required

Be cautious, as 'paramour' can be considered outdated or offensive in modern usage.

Modern Sensitivity

The term doesn't necessarily imply a deep emotional connection, focusing more on the affair aspect.

Emotional Distance

Paramour is more common in literature, signaling a dramatic or romantic storyline.

Literary Use

 with suicide to woo his paramour with the perfect gift the delicate banded Demoiselle knows that what every girl wants is fast flowing water rich in life-giving oxygen as the best place to lay her eggs each