hetaerism

[ hi-teer-iz-uh m ]
/ hɪˈtɪər ɪz əm /

noun

a social system in which the women are considered common property.
Also he·tai·rism [hi-tahyuh r-iz-uh m] /hɪˈtaɪər ɪz əm/.

Origin of hetaerism

First recorded in 1855–60; hetaer(a) + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM hetaerism

he·tae·rist, noun het·ae·ris·tic [het-uh-ris-tik] /ˌhɛt əˈrɪs tɪk/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for hetaerism

British Dictionary definitions for hetaerism

hetaerism

hetairism (hɪˈtaɪrɪzəm)

/ (hɪˈtɪərɪzəm) /

noun

the state of being a concubine
sociol anthropol a social system attributed to some primitive societies, in which women are communally shared

Derived forms of hetaerism

hetaerist or hetairist, noun hetaeristic or hetairistic, adjective