prostitute

prostitute
{{11}}prostitute (n.) "harlot, woman who offers her body indiscriminately" (usually for money)," 1610s, from L. prostituta "prostitute," fem. of prostitutus, pp. of prostituere (see PROSTITUTE (Cf. prostitute) (v.)).
{{12}}prostitute (v.) 1520s, "to offer to indiscriminate sexual intercourse (usually in exchange for money)," from L. prostituere "to expose to prostitution, expose publicly," from pro- "before" (see PRO- (Cf. pro-)) + statuere "cause to stand, establish," from PIE root *sta- "to stand," with derivatives meaning "place or thing that is standing" (see STET (Cf. stet)). Related: Prostituted; prostituting. The notion of "sex for hire" is not inherent in the etymology, which rather suggests one "exposed to lust" or sex "indiscriminately offered." However, this is now almost the official European term for the institution, e.g. Ger. prostituierte, Rus. prostitutka, etc. Figurative sense (of abilities, etc.) is from 1590s. Of men, in reference to homosexual acts, from 1886 (in form prostitution).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • prostitute — pros·ti·tute 1 / präs tə ˌtüt, ˌtyüt/ n: a person who engages in sexual activity indiscriminately esp. for money compare panderer, pimp prostitute 2 vt tut·ed, tut·ing [Latin prostitutus, past participle of prostituere, from p …   Law dictionary

  • Prostitute — Pros ti*tute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Prostituted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Prostituting}.] [L. prostitutus, p. p. of prostituere to prostitute; pro before, forth + statuere to put, place. See {Statute}.] 1. To offer, as a woman, to a lewd use; to give up… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • prostitute — ► NOUN ▪ a person, typically a woman, who engages in sexual activity for payment. ► VERB (often prostitute oneself) 1) offer (someone) as a prostitute. 2) put to an unworthy or corrupt use for the sake of gain. DERIVATIVES prostitution noun …   English terms dictionary

  • Prostitute — Pros ti*tute, a. [L. prostitutus, p. p.] Openly given up to lewdness; devoted to base or infamous purposes. [1913 Webster] Made bold by want, and prostitute for bread. Prior [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Prostitute — Pros ti*tute, n. [L. prostituta.] 1. A woman giver to indiscriminate lewdness; a strumpet; a harlot. [1913 Webster] 2. A base hireling; a mercenary; one who offers himself to infamous employments for hire. [1913 Webster] No hireling she, no… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • prostitutė — prostitùtė dkt. Skur̃das pri̇̀vertė tàpti prostitutè …   Bendrinės lietuvių kalbos žodyno antraštynas

  • prostitute — [n] person who sells own abilities, talent, or name for inferior purpose betrayer, cheater, deceiver, gigolo, hustler, seducer; concept 412 prostitute [v] to put one’s talent to an unworthy use abuse, cheapen, corrupt, debase, debauch, degrade,… …   New thesaurus

  • prostitute — [präs′tə to͞ot΄, präs′tətyo͞ot΄] vt. prostituted, prostituting [< L prostitutus, pp. of prostituere < pro , before + statuere, to cause to stand, akin to stare, STAND] 1. to sell the services of (oneself or another) for purposes of sexual… …   English World dictionary

  • Prostitute (EP) — Infobox Album Name = Prostitute Type = ep Artist = Neuroticfish Released = June 4,2002 Recorded = Genre = Synthpop Length = 16:24 Label = Strange Ways Producer = Neuroticfish Reviews = Last album = Sushi 2001 This album = Prostitute 2002 Next… …   Wikipedia

  • prostitute — [[t]prɒ̱stɪtjuːt, AM tuːt[/t]] prostitutes, prostituting, prostituted 1) N COUNT A prostitute is a person, usually a woman, who has sex with men in exchange for money. He admitted last week he paid for sex with a prostitute. ...male prostitutes.… …   English dictionary

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