maugre

preposition

mau·​gre ˈmȯ-gər 

archaic

: in spite of

Did you know?

Maugre is now quite rare, but having served the English language for more than 700 years, it's due whatever rest it's currently enjoying. Although it may not be a word worth incorporating into your expressive vocabulary, being familiar with it will be helpful in reading the works of such authors as Shakespeare, Scott, Milton, and, as in this quote from his Essays, First Series, Emerson: "By virtue of this inevitable nature, private will is overpowered, and, maugre our efforts or our imperfections, your genius will speak from you, and mine from me." The word is Anglo-French in origin, coming from "mal" or mau, meaning "evil," and gré, meaning "grace, favor."

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French malgré, from malgré ill will, from mal, mau evil + gré grace, favor

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

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