concubine

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.3 See also 1.4 References 2 Italian 2.1 Noun

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

Origin: 1250–1300; ME (< AF) < L concubīna, equiv. to concub- (var. s. of concumbere to lie together; see con-, incumbent) + -īna fem. suffix.

[edit] Noun

concubine (plural concubines)

1. A woman who lives with a man, but who is not a wife.
2. A slave-girl for sexual service prominent in all ancient cultures.
3. Signifies a relationship where the male is the dominant partner, socially and economically
4. A woman attached to a man solely for reproduction, and who cares for the resulting children without any romantic relationship
5. (esp. formerly in Arabic societies) a woman residing in a harem and kept, as by a sultan, for sexual purposes. ^[1]

[edit] See also

• 妾 (for the chinese ideograph)
• concubines
• harem
• polygamy
• co-wife
• seraglio

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ^ Random House Unabridged Dictionary

---

[edit] Italian

[edit] Noun

concubine f.

1. Plural form of concubina.