demimondaine
Noun: A woman whose lifestyle, particularly involving sexual promiscuity or being supported by wealthy lovers, places her on the fringes of respectable society. Historically, the term refers to a woman belonging to the "demi-monde," a 19th-century social class of women considered to be of doubtful social standing and morality.
The term is used to describe a woman who lives by exploiting her charms and relationships with men, often in a luxurious manner, but is not accepted by conventional society. It is a dated and literary term.
Examples: * The novel's protagonist was a demimondaine who moved between the worlds of high finance and bohemian artists. * In 19th-century Paris, the demimondaine was a familiar, if controversial, figure in certain theaters and cafés. * She lived the life of a demimondaine, adorned with jewels from admirers but never received by polite society.
- The term often carries connotations of glamour, moral ambiguity, and a specific historical context (particularly the Belle Époque).
- It is distinct from "prostitute," as a typically sought long-term patronage and a lavish lifestyle rather than direct payment for individual encounters.
- Demi-monde (noun): The social world or class to which a demimondaine belongs. "He was a frequent visitor to the Parisian ."
- Courtesan (noun): A similar historical term for a mistress or companion, especially one associated with wealthy, powerful, or royal men.
- Courtesan
- Kept woman
- Mistress
- Adventuress (in a specific historical sense)
- Matron
- Respectable woman
- Debutante
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a woman whose sexual promiscuity places her outside respectable society