noun

inamorata

ih-nam-uh-RAH-tuh/ɪˌnæməˈrɑtə/

A woman with whom someone is in love.

The inamorata receives flowers and a tender gaze from the person who loves her.

A person gazes tenderly at a woman while offering her flowers, and her central place in the affectionate attention shows she is the woman loved.

Etymology

inItalianin

+amorItalianlove

+ataItalianfeminine past-participle ending

The pieces describe a woman “in love.” The feminine participle became a noun meaning “sweetheart,” connecting the state of being in love with the woman someone loves.

In context

The Met presenter78:51

a beautiful but inaccessible inamorata for the benefit of her platonic lover.

The Renaissance Portrait from Donatello to Bellini

Global Georgetown presenter12:39

her elevation from shrew, from tart-tongued second fiddle, to the inamorata, to leading lady herself.

Natural and Supernatural Happiness in "The Taming of the Shrew"

More examples

The novelist dedicates her latest book to her inamorata.
He hopes his inamorata will join him for dinner.
The letters reveal how deeply he loved his inamorata.

Forms

inamorata · inamoratas

Similar words

sweetheart: An affectionate term for a beloved person of either gender.
girlfriend: Specifies a romantic partner, rather than simply someone loved.