hetaera

noun

he·​tae·​ra hi-ˈtir-ə How to pronounce hetaera (audio)
variants or hetaira
hi-ˈtī-rə How to pronounce hetaera (audio)
plural hetaerae hi-ˈtir-(ˌ)ē How to pronounce hetaera (audio) or hetaeras or hetairas or hetairai hi-ˈtī-ˌrī How to pronounce hetaera (audio)
1
: one of a class of highly cultivated courtesans in ancient Greece
2
: demimondaine

Word History

Etymology

Greek hetaira, literally, companion, feminine of hetairos

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hetaera was in 1820

Rhymes for hetaera

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Browse Nearby Words

het
hetaera
hetaerism
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Cite this Entry

“Hetaera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hetaera. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hetaera

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hetaera

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