courtesan

[ kawr-tuh-zuhn, kur- ]

/ ˈkɔr tə zən, ˈkɜr- /

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noun

(especially in historical use) a mistress, paramour, or prostitute, especially one associating with noblemen or men of wealth.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Sometimes cour·te·zan .

Origin of courtesan

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana, literally, “woman of the court,” derivative of corte court

Words nearby courtesan

court cupboard, court dance, court dress, Courtelle, courteous, courtesan, courtesy, courtesy call, courtesy car, courtesy card, courtesy light

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use courtesan in a sentence

Like courtesans in a ballroom, each protein bounces around the cell, temporarily grabbing onto another protein before leaving them to find the next.
This Algorithm Designs Proteins From Scratch to Accelerate Drug Discovery|Shelly Fan|March 24, 2022|Singularity Hub
Kushiel’s Dart, a story of courtesans, angels, politics, and intrigue, focuses on the unlikely heroine Phèdre nó Delaunay, who is born with a red mote in her eye—which portends that she is destined to find pleasure in pain.
8 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books That Deserve a Screen Adaptation|Leigh Butler|February 3, 2022|Time
She introduces us to explorers, pilots, warriors, spies, writers, queens, traitors, courtesans, athletes and politicians we’ve not heard of before.
Meet the forgotten rebels and quiet revolutionaries of women’s history|Lisa Birnbach|March 5, 2021|Washington Post
Tonya Jone Miller, who describes herself as an “aural courtesan,” has run the Bay City Blues sex-line for nine years.
Sex, Suicide, and Homework: The Secret World of the Telephone Hotline|Tim Teeman|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

She killed herself in 1925 and she also may have been a courtesan, I discovered a few years ago.
Amy Tan: How I Write|Noah Charney|December 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Instead, Violet is kidnapped and solid to a rival courtesan house, where she is trained by an older courtesan named Magic Gourd.
The Business of Sex: Amy Tan’s ‘The Valley of Amazement’ on Shanghai Courtesans|Jane Ciabattari|November 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The look was inspired by Dutch exotic dancer, courtesan, and the World War I spy Mata Hari.
Deconstructing Lady Gaga's 5 Bras in "Applause"|Erin Cunningham|August 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Girl Who Loved Camellias by Julie Kavanagh The courtesan who seduced Paris—and inspired Dumas and La Traviata.
This Week’s Hot Reads: June 10, 2013|Mythili Rao|June 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But to be really loved by a courtesan: that is a victory of infinitely greater difficulty.
Camille (La Dame aux Camilias)|Alexandre Dumas, fils
Couture was always welcome at the home of the courtesan, who dreamed, perhaps, of making him her husband.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z|Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe
First I hated you, when I dreamed you to be but a courtesan traitress.
The Lion's Brood|Duffield Osborne
Wilhelmine turned to her and, bending, kissed the old courtesan on the brow.
A German Pompadour|Marie Hay
In fact, they are on a level with the common, paid courtesan,—the lowest rank there is.
Unveiling a Parallel|Alice Ilgenfritz Jones and Ella Marchant

British Dictionary definitions for courtesan

courtesan

courtezan

/ (ˌkɔːtɪˈzæn) /

noun

(esp formerly) a prostitute, or the mistress of a man of rank

Word Origin for courtesan

C16: from Old French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana female courtier, from cortigiano courtier, from corte court

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

courtesan

Origin of courtesan

Words nearby courtesan

Words related to courtesan

How to use courtesan in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for courtesan

courtezan

Word Origin for courtesan