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Webster 1913 Edition

Courtesan

Cour′te-san

(k?r′t?-z?n; 277)
,
Noun.
[F.
courtisane
, fr.
courtisan
courtier, It.
cortigiano
; or directly fr. It.
cortigiana
, or Sp.
cortesana
. See
Court
.]
A woman who prostitutes herself for hire; a prostitute; a harlot.
Lasciviously decked like a
courtesan
.
Sir H. Wotton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Courtesan

COURTESAN

,
Noun.
A prostitute; a woman who prostitutes herself for hire, especially to men of rank.

Definition 2024

courtesan

courtesan

English

Noun

courtesan ‎(plural courtesans)

  1. (archaic) A woman of a royal or noble court.
  2. (dated) The mistress of a royal or noble.
  3. A prostitute, especially one with high-status or wealthy clients.

Translations

References

  • courtesan in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913 (etymology)

Anagrams

Etymology

From French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana, feminine of cortigiano ‎(“courtier”), from corte ‎(“court”), itself from Latin cohors. More at English court.

Pronunciation

  • (UK)(non-rhotic) IPA(key): /kɔːtɪˈzæn/, /ˈkɔːtɪzæn/, /ˈkɔːtɪzən/
  • (UK)(rhotic) IPA(key): /kɔɹtɪˈzæn/, /ˈkɔɹtɪzæn/, /ˈkɔɹtɪzən/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈkɔɹtɪzən/, /ˈkɔɹtɪzæn/

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