hetaerism

[ hi-teer-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. concubinage.
2. 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

Derived Forms

• ˌhetaeˈristic, adjective
• heˈtaerist, noun

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hetaerism¹

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

Example Sentences

Bachofen, furthermore, is perfectly right in contending that the transition from what he calls "hetaerism" or "incestuous generation" to monogamy was brought about mainly by women.

From Project Gutenberg

The transition from "hetaerism" to monogamy and from maternal to paternal law is accomplished according to him—especially by the Greeks—through the evolution of religious ideas.

From Project Gutenberg

Hetaerism is as much a social institution as all others.

From Project Gutenberg

In Catholic countries, the parents provide a fitting spouse for their son as of old, and the natural consequence is the full development of the contradictions inherent to monogamy: voluptuous hetaerism on the man's part, voluptuous adultery of the woman.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg