concubine

American  

[kong-kyuh-bahyn, kon-] / ˈkɒŋ kyəˌbaɪn, ˈkɒn- /

noun

1. a woman who cohabits with a man to whom she is not legally married, especially one regarded as socially or sexually subservient; mistress.

2. (among polygamous peoples) a secondary wife, usually of inferior rank.

3. (especially formerly in Muslim societies) a woman residing in a harem and kept, as by a sultan, for sexual purposes.

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concubine British  

/ ˈkɒn-, ˈkɒŋkjʊˌbaɪn, kɒŋˈkjʊbɪnərɪ /

noun

1. (in polygamous societies) a secondary wife, usually of lower social rank

2. a woman who cohabits with a man

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Other Word Forms

• concubinary noun

Etymology

Origin of concubine

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin concubīna, equivalent to concub- (variant stem of concumbere “to lie together”; con-, incumbent ) + -īna, feminine suffix

Explanation

Throughout history, there have been instances when it was considered acceptable for an important man to keep a woman, not his wife, as a mistress. These women were called concubines, and they often were treated better than the man’s wife. The word concubine comes from the Latin verb, cubare, which means "to lie down." The word developed in Middle English in the 13th Century, and is another name for a woman taken as a mistress. The practice was common throughout history: the Bible includes many references to concubines, and in ancient China, a ruler might have had thousands of concubines, some treated well, some like prostitutes. Sad to say, the practice is still going on, acceptable in some countries today.

Example Sentences

Cixi, once a concubine of the Xianfeng emperor, assumed power upon his death in 1861.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

Early on in the winsome new documentary about her life and work, Rita Moreno takes gently hilarious aim at Tuptim, the young Burmese concubine she played in the 1956 film of “The King and I.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2021

He must be rejoicing, telling the Emperor Charles that the king’s concubine is living her last hours.

From The Guardian • Feb. 22, 2020

She’s in town with her new novel, “The Bird King,” the story of a concubine in the royal court of Granada, the last emirate of Muslim Spain.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 1, 2019

It was a meaningless demand because the concubine was so annoyed with the comradeship between her lover and his daughter that she did not want anything to do with her.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Related Words

• mistress