courtesan
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of courtesan
First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana, literally, “woman of the court,” derivative of corte court
Explanation
From the Renaissance on, European kings and noblemen often kept a courtesan, that is, a woman with whom they had a relationship but were not married to. The courtesan got her name quite literally from the royal court where she lived. In fact, the term to court, as in to woo someone romantically, comes from the origin. A similar term is concubine, though it has a slightly different meaning. Concubines date from earlier times, to the Biblical era and beyond, and refer to women who were generally kept far more closeted socially, unlike courtesans, who often had great independence and freedom. Don't confuse your different types of high class girlfriends!
Vocabulary lists containing courtesan
The Haunting of Hill House
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In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
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Typical American
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Courtesans sometimes immolated themselves in the service of the goddess.
From Folkways A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals by Sumner, William Graham
Lucian of Samosata achieved a brilliant success with his ironic dialogues "Of the Gods," "Of the Dead," "Of Love" and "Of the Courtesans."
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 3 "Destructors" to "Diameter" by Various
Courtesans were the priestesses in her temples, and those of Corinth were believed by their prayers to have averted calamities from their city.
From History of European Morals From Augustus to Charlemagne (Vol. 2 of 2) by Lecky, William Edward Hartpole
A scholiast on Lucian's Dialogues of Courtesans let out the secret in a much later age.
From Myth, Ritual And Religion, Vol. 2 (of 2) by Lang, Andrew
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
