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hetaerae

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he⋅tae⋅ra

  [hi-teer-uh]
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–noun, plural -tae⋅rae  [-teer-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.

Origin:
1810–20; < Gk hetaíra (fem.) companion

Related forms:
he⋅tae⋅ric, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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he·tae·ra   (hĭ-tîr'ə)   
n.   pl. he·tae·rae (-tîr'ē) or he·tae·ras also he·tai·rai (-tīr'ī') or he·tai·ras
An ancient Greek courtesan or concubine, especially one of a special class of cultivated female companions.

[Greek hetaira, feminine of hetairos, companion; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots.]
he·tae'ric adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

hetaera 
1820, "mistress," from Mod.L., 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 base *s(w)e- (see idiom).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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