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Synonyms

courtesan

American  
[kawr-tuh-zuhn, kur-] / ˈkɔr tə zən, ˈkɜr- /
Sometimes courtezan

noun

  1. (especially in historical use) a mistress, paramour, or prostitute, especially one associating with noblemen or men of wealth.

courtesan British  
/ ˌkɔːtɪˈzæn /

noun

  1. (esp formerly) a prostitute, or the mistress of a man of rank

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of courtesan

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana, literally, “woman of the court,” derivative of corte court

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.