concubine

[ kong-kyuh-bahyn, kon- ]
/ ˈkɒŋ kyəˌbaɪn, ˈkɒn- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR concubine ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a woman who cohabits with a man to whom she is not legally married, especially one regarded as socially or sexually subservient; mistress.
(among polygamous peoples) a secondary wife, usually of inferior rank.
(especially formerly in Muslim societies) a woman residing in a harem and kept, as by a sultan, for sexual purposes.

Origin of concubine

1250–1300; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin concubīna, equivalent to concub- (variant stem of concumbere to lie together; see con-, incumbent) + -īna feminine suffix

Words nearby concubine

concretionary, concretism, concretize, concubinage, concubinary, concubine, concupiscence, concupiscent, concupiscible, concur, concurrence

Words related to concubine

mistress, courtesan

Example sentences from the Web for concubine

British Dictionary definitions for concubine

concubine
/ (ˈkɒŋkjʊˌbaɪn, ˈkɒn-) /

noun

(in polygamous societies) a secondary wife, usually of lower social rank
a woman who cohabits with a man

Derived forms of concubine

concubinary (kɒŋˈkjʊbɪnərɪ), noun, adjective

Word Origin for concubine

C13: from Old French, from Latin concubīna, from concumbere to lie together, from cubare to lie