hetaerae








noun, plural he·tae·rae [hi-teer-ee] /hɪˈtɪər i/.

  1. a highly cultured courtesan or concubine, especially in ancient Greece.
  2. any woman who uses her beauty and charm to obtain wealth or social position.

noun plural -taerae (-ˈtɪəriː) or -tairai (-ˈtaɪraɪ)

  1. (esp in ancient Greece) a female prostitute, esp an educated courtesan
n.

1820, “mistress,” from Medieval Latin hetaera, from Greek hetaira “female companion,” in Athens opposed to “lawful wife,” and thus embracing everything from “concubine” to “courtesan;” fem. of hetairos “comrade, companion,” from PIE *swet-aro-, suffixed form of root *s(w)e- (see idiom).

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