courtesan
Aristocrat's paid companion
A courtesan is a woman who provides sexual companionship to wealthy or powerful men in exchange for financial support and social position.
Unlike a common prostitute, a courtesan historically occupied an elevated status—educated, refined, and often influential in aristocratic circles: the courtesans of Renaissance Venice.
The term now sounds literary or historical.
Japanese arts entertainer
- concubineSecondary female partner
- odalisqueHarem slave or attendant
- kept womanSupported female companion
- royal mistressMonarch's extramarital companion
One who keeps company
intimate · confidante · escort · attendant · entertainer · hostess · protector · benefactor
Of monarchs
- palaceMonarch's official residence
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- intrigueSecret plotting or fascination
favor · influence · politics · patronage · monarch · king · emperor · power
Showy, abundant prosperity
- silkFine woven insect fiber
- velvetThick-pile textile
- jewelsOrnamental precious stones
- brocadeRaised-pattern luxury fabric
gold · patronage · gifts · sedan chair · chambers · apartments · finery · perfume
Think deeply about
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- performanceCarrying out a task
- poetryMetrical literary composition
- danceRhythmic bodily movement
music · theatre · singing · entertainment · recitation · conversation · wit · accomplishment
Attractive, tempting quality
- eleganceRefined, graceful quality
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- charmAttractive personal quality
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
radiance · glamour · refinement · seductiveness · captivation · magnetism · enchantment · beguiling
Romantic entanglement outside commitment
- infamyExtreme public disgrace
- disgraceLoss of honor
- notorietyFame from misdeeds
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
indiscretion · rumor · liaison · fallen · shame · dishonor · impropriety · adultery
Educated in arts, manners
- eruditeProfoundly knowledgeable
- refinedPurified or cultured
- urbaneRefined and courteous
- polishedSmooth, refined, accomplished
worldly · cosmopolitan · witty · accomplished · educated · literary · musical · conversant
geisha
Japanese arts entertainer
- concubineSecondary female partner
- odalisqueHarem slave or attendant
- kept womanSupported female companion
companion
One who keeps company
lover · intimate · confidante · escort · attendant · entertainer · hostess · protector · benefactor · arrangement
royal
Of monarchs
- palaceMonarch's official residence
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
intrigue · favor · influence · politics · patronage · monarch · king · emperor · power · secret
opulence
Showy, abundant prosperity
brocade · gold · patronage · gifts · sedan chair · chambers · apartments · finery · perfume · fans
muse
Think deeply about
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- performanceCarrying out a task
- poetryMetrical literary composition
dance · music · theatre · singing · entertainment · recitation · conversation · wit · accomplishment · instrument
allure
Attractive, tempting quality
poise · radiance · glamour · refinement · seductiveness · captivation · magnetism · enchantment · beguiling · coquetry
affair
Romantic entanglement outside commitment
gossip · indiscretion · rumor · liaison · fallen · shame · dishonor · impropriety · adultery · betrayal
cultured
Educated in arts, manners
polished · worldly · cosmopolitan · witty · accomplished · educated · literary · musical · conversant · diplomatic
- femaleswoman, girl, lady, mother, daughter
- historical rolesking, queen, emperor, knight, peasant
- Japanese figuressamurai, shogun, daimyo, geisha, ronin
- Medieval Womenabbess, noblewoman, lady, queen, duchess
- romance novelsbodice ripper, Harlequin, happily ever after, rake, historical romance
- sex tradeprostitution, sex work, sex worker, brothel, escort
courtesanwife
Female marriage partner
spouse · bride · married woman · matron · housewife
courtesanstreetwalker
One who solicits outdoors
harlot · whore · trollop · strumpet · prostitute
- common courtesyExpected polite behavior
- courtesy ofSupplied by, as gift
- courtesy callPolite but perfunctory contact
- courtesy titlesFormal name prefixes
- courtesy flushEarly flush to limit smell
- courtesy copyEmail sent for awareness