hetaera

hetaera
hetaeric, adj.
/hi tear"euh/, n., pl. hetaerae /-tear"ee/.
1. a highly cultured courtesan or concubine, esp. in ancient Greece.
2. any woman who uses her beauty and charm to obtain wealth or social position.
Also, hetaira.
[1810-20; < Gk hetaíra (fem.) companion]

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▪ ancient Greek courtesan
(Latin),Greek  Hetaira 

      (Female Companion), one of a class of professional independent courtesans of ancient Greece who, besides developing physical beauty, cultivated their minds and talents to a degree far beyond that allowed to the average Attic woman. Usually living fashionably alone, or sometimes two or three together, the hetaerae enjoyed an enviable and respected position of wealth and were protected and taxed by the state. Though they were generally foreigners, slaves, or freedwomen, their freedom was greater than that of the married woman, who was bound to seclusion. That their homes were frequented by married men was not censured by society. They were often hired as entertainers for symposia and family sacrifices. The hetaerae of Corinth and Athens were especially noted for their outstanding physical and cultural accomplishments. Phryne and Lais are historic representatives.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • hetaera — 1820, mistress, from M.L. hetaera, from Gk. 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… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Hetaera — He*t[ae] ra, Hetaira He*tai ra, n.; pl. { r[ae]}. [NL. See {Hetairism}.] (Gr. Antiq.) A female paramour; a mistress, concubine, or harlot. {He*t[ae] ric}, {He*tai ric}, a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hetaera — HETAERA, æ, sieh Amica …   Gründliches mythologisches Lexikon

  • hetaera — [hitī′rə] n. pl. hetairai [hi tīrī΄hi tir′ə] n. hetaerae [hi tir′ē] or hetaeras [Gr hetaira, fem. of hetairos, companion] in ancient Greece, a courtesan or concubine, usually an educated slave: also hetaira [hitī′rə] n. hetairai [hi tīrī΄] …   English World dictionary

  • Hetaera — For the elite Ancient Macedonian cavalry ( hetairoi , companions ), see Companion cavalry. In ancient Greece, hetaerae (in Greek polytonic|ἑταῖραι, hetairai ) were courtesans, that is to say, sophisticated companions and prostitutes. Overview In… …   Wikipedia

  • hetaera — or hetaira noun (plural hetaerae or hetaeras or hetairas or hetairai) Etymology: Greek hetaira, literally, companion, feminine of hetairos Date: 1820 1. one of a class of highly cultivated courtesans in ancient Greece 2. demimondaine …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hetaera — noun /hɪˈtɪəɹə/ A mistress, especially a highly cultivated courtesan in ancient Greece. But of course our friend is only a shallow twentieth century reproduction of the great hetairae of the past, the type to which she belongs without knowing it …   Wiktionary

  • hetaera — he·tae·ra || hɪ tɪrÉ™ / tɪər n. concubine, mistress (in ancient Greece) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • hetaera — [hɪ tɪərə] (also hetaira tʌɪrə) noun (plural hetaeras or hetaerae tɪəri: or hetairas or hetairai tʌɪrʌɪ) a courtesan or mistress, especially an educated one in ancient Greece. Origin from Gk hetaira, feminine of hetairos companion …   English new terms dictionary

  • hetaera — he·tae·ra …   English syllables

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