8 May 2018

hetaera

[hi-teer-uh]

noun, plural hetaerae [hi-teer-ee]

1. a highly cultured courtesan or concubine, especially in ancient Greece.
2. any woman who uses her beauty and charm to obtain wealth or social position.
Also, hetaira.

Origin of hetaera

Greek

1810-1820, First recorded in 1810-20, hetaera is from the Greek word hetaíra (feminine) companion

Related forms

hetaeric, adjective

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for hetaera

Historical Examples

She adopted the hetaera life, and was the “companion” of Stilpo himself.
Greek Women
Mitchell Carroll

The concubine has the status of a hetaera ; she travels with the man, keeps his accounts, etc.
The Modern Woman’s Rights Movement
Kaethe Schirmacher

The Thais of that play is the most favourable delineation of the Athenian ‘ hetaera ‘ in ancient literature.
The Roman Poets of the Republic
William Young Sellar

Anagram

a heater
the area
heat era

Today’s quote

…the problem with words is that once spoken, they cannot find their way back to the speaker alone.

– Arturo Pérez-Reverte

On this day

8 May 1911 – birthday of Robert Johnson. American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter. Legend has it that Johnson met the devil at a crossroads and sold his soul in return for fame and fortune. One of the first musicians of the 20th century to join the 27 club. Died 16 August 1938.

8 May 1945 – VE day. Victory in Europe – the day that Nazi Germany formally surrendered in World War II.