courtesan
Use Courtesan in a sentence
tə noun
a prostitute or paramour, especially one associating with noblemen or men of wealth.
Also, cour·te·zan.
Origin:
1540–50; < Middle French courtisane < Italian cortigiana, literally, woman of the court, derivative of corte court
1540–50; < Middle French courtisane < Italian cortigiana, literally, woman of the court, derivative of corte court
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To courtesan
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World English Dictionary
courtesan or courtezan (ˌkɔːtɪˈzæn) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| (esp formerly) a prostitute, or the mistress of a man of rank | |
| [C16: from Old French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana female courtier, from cortigiano courtier, from corte | |
| courtezan or courtezan | |
| —n | |
| [C16: from Old French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana female courtier, from cortigiano courtier, from corte | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Courtesan
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
courtesan
1549, from M.Fr. courtisane, from It. cortigiana "prostitute," lit. "woman of the court," fem. of cortigiano "one attached to a court," from corte "court," from L. cortem (see court).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
On the left, an uncultured yet gentle boatman helps a courtesan onto a boat to take her to an appointment.
Besides, she was already twenty, and twenty means old age for a courtesan.
Even more shocking was the frank honesty of the courtesan: her boldness-not nudity-offended.
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