/ ˈkɔːr.t̬ə.zæn / add to word list a woman, usually with a high social position, who in the past had sexual relationships with rich or important men in exchange for money (definition of courtesan from the cambridge advanced learner's dictionary & thesaurus © cambridge university press) One associating with noblemen or men of wealth Meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the oxford english dictionary A woman prostitute, especially one whose clients are members of a royal court or men of high social standing From the renaissance on, european kings and noblemen often kept a courtesan, that is, a woman with whom they had a relationship but were not married to The courtesan got her name quite literally from the royal court where she lived.
(especially in historical use) a mistress, paramour, or prostitute, especially one associating with noblemen or men of wealth. See examples of courtesan used in a sentence. Definition of courtesan noun in oxford advanced learner's dictionary Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
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