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hetaerism

[ hi-teer-iz-uhm ]

noun

  1. a social system in which the women are considered common property.


hetaerism

/ hɪˈtaɪrɪzəm; hɪˈtɪərɪzəm /

noun

  1. the state of being a concubine
  2. sociol anthropol a social system attributed to some primitive societies, in which women are communally shared
“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

  • ˌhetaeˈristic, adjective
  • heˈtaerist, noun
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Other Words From

  • he·taerist noun
  • het·ae·ris·tic [het-, uh, -, ris, -tik], adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hetaerism1

First recorded in 1855–60; hetaer(a) + -ism
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Example Sentences

By the side of the husband, who is making his life pleasant by hetaerism, stands the neglected wife.

In this case hetaerism is carried on less strenuously and adultery on the part of the woman is not so frequent.

Consequently the eternal companions of monogamy, hetaerism and adultery, play an almost insignificant role here.

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hetaerahetaira