hetaera
[ hi-teer-uh ]
/ hɪˈtɪər ə /
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noun, plural he·tae·rae [hi-teer-ee]. /hɪˈtɪər i/.
a highly cultured courtesan or concubine, especially in ancient Greece.
any woman who uses her beauty and charm to obtain wealth or social position.
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Also hetaira.
Origin of hetaera
First recorded in 1810–20, hetaera is from the Greek word hetaíra (feminine) companion
OTHER WORDS FROM hetaera
he·tae·ric, adjectiveWords nearby hetaera
Hester, Hestia, Heston and Isleworth, Hesychast, het, hetaera, hetaerism, hetaira, heterarchy, heteraxial, heteresthesia
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use hetaera in a sentence
The concubine has the status of a hetaera; she travels with the man, keeps his accounts, etc.
The Modern Woman's Rights Movement|Kaethe SchirmacherThe Thais of that play is the most favourable delineation of the Athenian 'Hetaera' in ancient literature.
The Roman Poets of the Republic|William Young SellarShe adopted the hetaera life, and was the "companion" of Stilpo himself.
Greek Women|Mitchell Carroll
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British Dictionary definitions for hetaera
hetaera
hetaira (hɪˈtaɪrə)
/ (hɪˈtɪərə) /
noun plural -taerae (-ˈtɪəriː) or -tairai (-ˈtaɪraɪ)
(esp in ancient Greece) a female prostitute, esp an educated courtesan
Derived forms of hetaera
hetaeric or hetairic, adjectiveWord Origin for hetaera
C19: from Greek hetaira concubine
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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