concubine Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a woman who cohabits with an important man
    courtesan; doxy; paramour.

WordNet


Con"cu*bine noun
Etymology
F., fr. L. concubina; con- + cubare to lie down, concumbere to lie together, akin to E. cubit.
Definitions
  1. A woman who cohabits with a man without being his wife; a paramour. Concubine has been sometimes, but rarely, used of a male paramour as well as of a female. Trench.
  2. A wife of inferior condition; a lawful wife, but not united to the man by the usual ceremonies, and of inferior condition. Such were Hagar and Keturah, the concubines of Abraham; and such concubines were allowed by the Roman laws. Their children were not heirs of their father.

Webster 1913