concubine

/'kɔɳkju:binəri/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A woman who lives with and has a sexual relationship with a man to whom she is not married, especially a man of high social status or wealth: Historically, a concubine held a recognized, but secondary, legal and social position compared to a wife. The relationship was often formalized and involved cohabitation.
    • A mistress; a kept woman: In some modern or historical contexts, it can refer to a woman financially supported by a man in a long-term, extramarital relationship.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • In many ancient societies, a king might have several wives and many concubines.
    • The historical novel described the life of a concubine in the imperial palace.
    • She was treated as a concubine, living in his household but without the legal rights of a wife.
Advanced Usage
  • Historical/Legal Context: The term is strongly associated with historical, polygamous, or patriarchal societies (e.g., imperial China, ancient Rome, some biblical contexts) where the role was institutionalized. It implies a status lower than that of a wife.
  • Sociological/Literary Analysis: Used to discuss power dynamics, gender roles, and social structures in historical or fictional settings.
    • The study examined the political influence wielded by some imperial concubines.
Variants and Related Words
  • Concubinage (n): The state or practice of being a concubine; the custom of having concubines.
    • The law formally abolished concubinage in the 19th century.
Synonyms
  • Mistress: A woman having a sustained sexual relationship with a man who is married to someone else. (Often implies a less formal or institutionalized arrangement than "concubine").
  • Kept woman: A woman who is financially supported by a lover. (Colloquial and modern).
  • Secondary wife: In some specific cultural contexts. (Note: This is often a distinct legal category).
Related Phrases/Idioms
  • Taken as a concubine: A phrase used in historical or narrative contexts to describe the act of bringing a woman into this status.
    • After the war, many captives were taken as concubines by the victorious generals.
Noun
  1. a woman who cohabits with an important man

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