%ramou%

n.[ L. flos, floris, flower + amorlove. ] The plant love-lies-bleeding. [ Obs. ] Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To exceed in the number of mistresses. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. par amont above; par through, by (L. per) + amont above. See Amount. ] Having the highest rank or jurisdiction; superior to all others; chief; supreme; preëminent; as, a paramount duty. “A traitor paramount.” Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lady paramount (Archery), the lady making the best score. --
Lord paramount, the king. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. Superior; principal; preeminent; chief. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The highest or chief. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a paramount manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. par amour, lit., by or with love. See 2d Par, and Amour. ] 1. A lover, of either sex; a wooer or a mistress (formerly in a good sense, now only in a bad one); one who takes the place, without possessing the rights, of a husband or wife; -- used of a man or a woman. [ 1913 Webster ]

The seducer appeared with dauntless front, accompanied by his paramour Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Love; gallantry. [ Obs. ] “For paramour and jollity.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , adv. By or with love, esp. the love of the sexes; -- sometimes written as two words. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

For par amour, I loved her first ere thou. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Ramose. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. scaramouche, It. scaramuccio, scaramuccia, originally the name of a celebrated Italian comedian; cf. It. scaramuccia, scaramuccio, F. escarmouche, skirmish. Cf. Skirmish. ] A personage in the old Italian comedy (derived from Spain) characterized by great boastfulness and poltroonery; hence, a person of like characteristics; a buffoon. [ 1913 Webster ]