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View synonyms for concubine

concubine

[ kong-kyuh-bahyn, kon- ]

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.


concubine

/ ˈkɒn-; ˈkɒŋkjʊˌbaɪn; kɒŋˈkjʊbɪnərɪ /

noun

  1. (in polygamous societies) a secondary wife, usually of lower social rank
  2. a woman who cohabits with a man
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • concubinary, nounadjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of concubine1

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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of concubine1

C13: from Old French, from Latin concubīna, from concumbere to lie together, from cubare to lie
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Example Sentences

She started as a concubine and transformed herself into one of the key political players of her time.

From Ozy

Reuben the oldest was told that he would not excel, because he had loved his father's concubine and committed a grievous sin.

Mary, his Egyptian concubine, was endeared to him by the birth of Ibrahim.

He was born of Hagar, who was a concubine; and they still indulge themselves in the use of mercenary wives and concubines.

Julius Capitolinus reproaches the Emperor Verus for cutting his beard at the instigation of a concubine.

The slave who is captured in war and carried away as a concubine appears only at a far later stage of culture.

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concubinaryconcupiscence