mistresses
Affairs of men
Mistresses is the plural of mistress, a word with several related senses.
A mistress is a woman in a position of authority or control—the mistress of a household, the mistress of her craft.
It also refers to a woman having an ongoing sexual relationship with a married man: He kept mistresses throughout his marriage.
The female equivalent of master, mistress has largely fallen out of use except in this romantic sense.
Married person's sexual betrayal
- infidelityDisloyalty to a partner
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- liaisonConnector between groups
- trystSecret romantic meeting
clandestine · secrecy · deception · betrayal · cheating · illicit · unfaithful · paramour
Acquired ability through practice
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- craftSkilled manual art
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
adept · accomplished · command · specialist · practitioner · connoisseur · maven · prowess
Erotic power dynamics
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
- leatherTanned animal skin
- whipStrikes or aerates
domination · fetish · kink · roleplay · latex · bondage · safeword · power exchange
Hired household workers
- staffOrganization's workers collectively
- maidsHired household cleaners
- housekeepersPeople who clean residences
- butlerChief domestic servant
governess · cook · lady of the house · chatelaine · estate · manor · domestic · Victorian
adultery
Married person's sexual betrayal
- infidelityDisloyalty to a partner
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- liaisonConnector between groups
tryst · clandestine · secrecy · deception · betrayal · cheating · illicit · unfaithful · paramour · kept woman
skill
Acquired ability through practice
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- craftSkilled manual art
virtuoso · adept · accomplished · command · specialist · practitioner · connoisseur · maven · prowess · technique
BDSM
Erotic power dynamics
- submissiveReadily yielding to control
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
- leatherTanned animal skin
whip · domination · fetish · kink · roleplay · latex · bondage · safeword · power exchange · collar
servants
Hired household workers
- staffOrganization's workers collectively
- maidsHired household cleaners
- housekeepersPeople who clean residences
butler · governess · cook · lady of the house · chatelaine · estate · manor · domestic · Victorian · Downton
- medieval favoritesroyal favorites, advisors, confidants, courtiers, nobles
- Pre-Revolutionary FranceLouis XV, Louis XVI, Versailles, Madame de Pompadour, court life
- sexual customssexual norms, sexual taboos, marriage customs, courtship, virginity
- George IVPrince Regent, coronation, extravagance, debt, divorce trial
- womenmothers, women, females, gals, daughters
- royal courtking, queen, prince, princess, crown
mistresseswives
Married female partners
spouses · brides · fiancées · husbands · life partners
mistressesservants
Hired household workers
maids · housekeepers · domestics · handmaidens · slaves
- cruel mistressPunishing object of devotion
- royal mistressMonarch's extramarital companion
- mistress of ceremoniesWoman who introduces performers
- wardrobe mistressTheater costume coordinator
- ballet mistressFemale dance company coach
- royal mistressesLovers of reigning sovereigns