Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
zenana or za·na·na [zuh-nah-nuh] ExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for zenana on Thesaurus.com noun (in India)
- the part of the house in which the women and girls of a family are secluded.
- its occupants collectively.
Origin of zenana 1755–65; Hindi Persian zanāna, female, pertaining to women, adj. derivative of zan woman; cognate with Sanskrit jani woman, wife, Greek gynḗ, OCS žena, Old English cwēn woman, wife; see queen Related Words for zenana purdah, seraglio, serai, zenana Examples from the Web for zenana Historical Examples of zenana
But in visiting a zenana I only saw the inhabitants of that one house.
Emma L. Burnett
“Now I will tell you something of zenana visiting,” she said.
Emma L. Burnett
She offered her hand tremblingly, and led Gascoigne into the zenana.
Captain Frederick Marryat
Other interesting conveyances are those in which the zenana ladies travel.
A. A. Methley
The Khan then returned to the zenana, where Lurlee Khnum met him.
Philip Meadows Taylor
British Dictionary definitions for zenana zenana noun
- (in the East, esp in Muslim and Hindu homes) part of a house reserved for the women and girls of a household
Word Origin for zenana C18: from Hindi zanāna, from Persian, from zan woman
