1.) The American Heritage Dictionary’s sixth definition for the word ‘mistress’ is:
Now if I - an unmarried male - see a married woman from time to time (over a period of almost twenty years) and I don’t support her materially (gifts, yes - but no actual support) would she be my mistress? Or is there another term that is more appropriate?
How should she refer to me? If she goes into a store, for instance, to exchange an item of clothing that I bought her as a gift and my name is on the credit card receipt, does she just explain that it was a gift purchased by a friend (that was my solution to her question). But in more intimate conversations with other women, how might she refer to me? Is there a somewhat more ambiguous term that she could use - a masculine version of ‘mistress’?
‘Lover’ just doesn’t sit well with me - it implies, to me, a primarily sexual relationship; and we’re too old, now, to refer to one another as ‘girlfriend’ and ‘boyfriend’…
I’m looking for an answer by March 30th… so there’s no big hurry…
The obvious answer, of course, is to use the masculine form of ‘mistress,’ which would be ‘master.’ Somehow, though, I don’t think this would solve the problem.
It’s cumbersome, but ‘significant other’ or ‘SO’ might work.
Of course, if her husband discovers your 20-year relationship, you might be referred to as ‘defendant.’
Sugar Daddy doesn’t work, as that normally implies an older man lavishing gifts and supporting a younger women. Fuck Buddy sounds about right, but I wouldn’t use it in polite society.
Although I do not approve of adultery, bbb hasn’t given us too much info besides the fact that the woman he has been seeing for twenty years is married and that they are too old to refer to each other as boyfriend and girlfriend.
I doubt that she is happily married and there’s even a possibility that the marriage is one of convenience for this woman and her husband. Perhaps they both see other people outside of the marriage with the other’s knowledge but have chosen not to divorce for reasons unknown.
If everyone is happy and fully informed of what’s going on then this is not as bad as it initially sounds… of course if the married woman was my wife and I didn’t know that she had a thing going on with bbb things would get ugly really fast.
I still have no idea what to call bbb except that I won’t be calling him rude names or insulting a woman we know nothing about.
[slight hijack]
This has nothing much to do with the OP, but I saw a toast somewhere, “Here’s to our wives and our girlfriends. May they never meet…”
[/slight hijack]
You’re a “kept man,” a “toyboy,” a “temporarily unemployed pool boy,” a “male chippie,” “just a gigolo.” “Himbo.” “Gentleman Escort.” And you’re not the first.
There isn’t a word in English you’re going to like, sorry. The most accurate word is “lover” if the relationship is sexual, and “friend” if it isn’t.
And I feel that the words she uses in private, intimate conversations are not only none of our business, it’s none of yours. But that’s just my opinion.
I’d suggest she could be your ‘Ladylove’ and you her ‘Admirer’. ‘Admirer’ implies something not just sexual and a bit more intense than just a friend. Ignore the moralists BBB - you both sound mature enough to know what you’re doing.
You have to wonder why two grown people would carry on a 20 year relationship that is based is deception and lies. You, knowing it can never mature, and she, knowing her closest relationships are worthy of scorn.
Not getting caught, and being mature are two different things. He is enabling her to be deceptive to her husband. If the marital relationship is so bad, she should live her life honestly and have the courage to file for divorce.