prostitute
noun
- person who has sex for money
verb
- act as a prostitute
- sell sex for money (or metaphorical extension thereof)
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɒstɪˌtjuːt/ / [ˈpɹɒstɪtʰjuːt] / /ˈpɹɒstɪˌt͡ʃuːt/
adj
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *pró Proto-Indo-European *pro- Proto-Italic *pro- Latin prō- Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Italic *status Proto-Italic *statuō Latin statuō Latin prōstituō Latin prōstitūtusder. English prostitute From Latin prōstitūtus, past participle of prōstituō, from prō̆ (“for, before”) + statuō (“to set up, to erect”).
- Debased, corrupt; seeking personal gain by dishonourable means.
“[H]e speaks a languages that merits not reply, and which can only excite contempt for his prostitute principles, or pity for his ignorance.”
- Taking part in promiscuous sexual activity, licentious; (later, chiefly as attributive use of noun) that is a prostitute.
“They rightly say that attacks against prostitute women are common and that it's only when five are murdered in one place that it starts to provoke debate.”
- Exposed, subjected (to something shameful).
“[A]nd novv at length all men of all Nations, not only Philoſophers, but even the vulgar, have, and doe ſtill deale vvith this [the subject of the book] as a matter of eaſe, expoſed and proſtitute to every Mother-vvit, and to be attained vvithout any great care or ſtudy, […]”
noun
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *pró Proto-Indo-European *pro- Proto-Italic *pro- Latin prō- Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Italic *status Proto-Italic *statuō Latin statuō Latin prōstituō Latin prōstitūtusder. English prostitute From Latin prōstitūtus, past participle of prōstituō, from prō̆ (“for, before”) + statuō (“to set up, to erect”).
- Any person (especially a woman) who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood.
- A woman who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood.
“Unfortunately, there is to my knowledge no visual evidence for the dress of the Roman prostitute, but the literary sources present us with a range of prostitute clothing (from rich accoutrements all the way down to nothing), […]”
- A person who does, or offers to do, a demeaning or dishonourable activity for money or personal gain; someone who acts in a dishonourable way for personal advantage.
“Kai Wen: Why not? You're nothing but a prostitute. / Vicky: How dare you call me a prostitute!”
“Madonna would do anything for money, you know, she's a total prostitute. And I've got nothing against prostitutes.”
verb
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *pró Proto-Indo-European *pro- Proto-Italic *pro- Latin prō- Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Italic *status Proto-Italic *statuō Latin statuō Latin prōstituō Latin prōstitūtusder. English prostitute From Latin prōstitūtus, past participle of prōstituō, from prō̆ (“for, before”) + statuō (“to set up, to erect”).
- To offer (oneself or someone else) for sexual activity in exchange for money.
“Do not prostitute thy daughter.”
- To sacrifice (oneself, one's talents etc.) in return for profit or other advantage; to exploit for base purposes.
“[T]heſe, their rights / In the vile ſtreets they proſtitute to ſale; / Their ancient rights, their dignities, their laws, / Their native glorious freedom.”