mari complaisant

Borrowed from French mari (“husband”) + complaisant (“tolerant, acquiescent”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌmaɹi ˈkɒ̃(m)plɛzɒ̃/, /ˌmaɹi kɒ̃(m)plɛˈzɒ̃/

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• (US) IPA^(key): /məˌɹi kɑmplɛˈzɑnt/

mari complaisant (plural maris complaisants)

1. A husband who tolerates his spouse's adultery. [from 19th c.]
   • 1957, Lawrence Durrell, Justine:

     She was reputed to have had many lovers, and Nessim was regarded as a mari complaisant.

   • 1988, James Fox, White Mischief:

     “And when Vera wanted to go off with Lord Moyne, he would say, ‘I hope you have fun. God bless you. See you when you get back.’ That's not to say his feelings weren't hurt. He was too weak to say no — a mari complaisant.”

   • 2005, Nick Cohen, The Guardian, 6 Nov 2005:

     Stephen Quinn, mari complaisant of Blunkett's former lover, Kimberly Quinn, told a colleague of mine that he resented being called rich.

• cuckold
• wittol

• IPA^(key): /ma.ʁi kɔ̃.plɛ.zɑ̃/

mari complaisant m (plural maris complaisants)

1. mari complaisant