maugre

See also: maugré

English

WOTD – 12 February 2009

Alternative forms

• magre [14th–19th c.]
• malgre
• mauger [14th–18th c.]
• maulgre [14th–17th c.]
• maugree [14th c.]

Etymology

From Middle English maugre, from Anglo-Norman malgré, from mal (“bad”) + gre (“pleasure, grace”) (from Old French, from Latin gratum).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔː.ɡə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔɡɚ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔːɡə(ɹ)

Preposition

maugre

1. (obsolete) In spite of, notwithstanding. [from 14th c.]

   Synonyms: despite, regardless of; see also Thesaurus:despite

   • [c. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, edited by Skeat, The Wife of Bath's Tale (in Middle English):

     He saugh a mayde walkinge him biforn, / Of whiche mayde anon, maugree hir heed, / By verray force he rafte hir maydenheed; […]

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)]

   • 1668, Franciscus Euistor the Palæopolite [pseudonym; Henry More], “The First Dialogue”, in Divine Dialogues, Containing Sundry Disquisitions & Instructions Concerning the Attributes of God and His Providence in the World. […], London: […] James Flesher, →OCLC, paragraph II, page 6:

     In my mind it is a ſign of a great deal of natural Integrity and inbred Nobleneſs of ſpirit, that maugre the heavineſs of his Complexion that thus ſtrongly bears him dovvn from apprehending ſo concerning Metaphyſicall Truths, yet he retains ſo vivid reſentments of the more sſolid Morality.

   • 1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 31:

     He chains the Deev in the centre of the mountain, and at the suit of Merjân hastens to attack another powerful Deev named Houdkonz; but here, alas! fortune deserts him, and, maugre his talismans and enchanted arms, the gallant Tahmuras falls beneath his foe.

Translations

in spite of — see in spite of

Adverb

maugre (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) Notwithstanding, despite everything. [14th–17th c.]
   • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, book III, canto xi:

     cruell Mulciber would not obay / His threatfull pride, but did the more augment / His mighty rage, and with imperious sway / Him forst (maulgre) his fiercenesse to relent, / And backe retire […]

Synonyms

• even so, nonetheless, withal; see also Thesaurus:nevertheless

Noun

maugre (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) Ill will; spite.

Anagrams

• Gaumer, Mauger, mauger, murage