procuress
/procuress/
Definition
Noun: * A female procurer; specifically, a woman who procures clients for prostitutes or manages a brothel. The term is the feminine form of "procurer" and carries strong negative connotations of exploitation and control within the sex trade.
Usage
The word "procuress" is used to describe a woman in the specific role of facilitating prostitution. It is a formal and archaic term, often found in historical, legal, or literary contexts. In modern usage, "madam" is a more common synonym, though "procuress" emphasizes the act of procurement.
Examples
- In the 18th-century novel, the procuress was a notorious figure in the city's underworld.
- The court records described the accused as a procuress who recruited vulnerable young women.
- She was portrayed not as a victim but as a cunning procuress who profited from the trade.
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used in a pejorative sense to condemn the woman's actions.
- It can appear in metaphorical or literary contexts to describe a woman who arranges illicit relationships, even outside of commercial prostitution, though this is rare.
Variants and Related Words
- Procurer (noun): The gender-neutral or male equivalent of "procuress"; a person who procures clients for prostitutes.
- Procure (verb): To obtain something, especially with care or effort. In the context of prostitution, it means to provide a person for someone as a prostitute.
- Procurement (noun): The action of obtaining or procuring something. In a legal context, it can refer to the crime of procuring prostitutes.
Synonyms
- Madam
- Brothel-keeper
- Panderess (archaic)
Antonyms
- There is no direct antonym, but terms representing opposition to this role include abolitionist or reformer (in the context of sex work).
Related Phrases
- To procure for prostitution: The verbal phrase describing the action of a procuress.
- She was convicted for procuring young women for prostitution.
Noun
-
a woman pimp
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