Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “courtesanship” come from?

courtesanship (English) comes from English courtesan, from Middle French courtisane, from Italian cortigiana, from Italian corte, from Latin cōrtem, from Latin cohors, from Latin co-, from Latin cōn- — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

courtesanship (English): The state of being a courtesan; harlotry

Definitions

  1. The state of being a courtesan; harlotry

Ancestry of “courtesanship”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcourtesanA woman of a royal or noble court; The mistress...
2Middle Frenchcourtisaneprostitute
3Italiancortigianacourtier; courtesan
4Italiancortecourtyard; court
5Latincōrtem—
6Latincohorsa court; a farmyard or enclosure; a retinue or...
7Latinco-allomorph of con-
8Latincōn-—
9Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
10Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
11Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
12Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
13Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
14Middle Englishkyt—
15Germankitt—
16Old High Germankuti—
17Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
18Proto-Germanickweduzresin
19Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
20Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
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