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Concubine vs Spouse - What's the difference?

concubine | spouse |

As nouns the difference between concubine and spouse

is that concubine is a woman who lives with a man, but who is not a wife while spouse is a person's husband or wife.

As a verb spouse is

(dated) to wed; to espouse.

concubine

English

(concubinage)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A woman who lives with a man, but who is not a wife.
  • A slave-girl for sexual service prominent in all ancient cultures.
  • Signifies a relationship where the male is the dominant partner, socially and economically
  • A woman attached to a man solely for reproduction, and who cares for the resulting children without any romantic relationship.
  • a woman residing in a harem and kept, as by a sultan or emperor, for sexual purposes.
  • A woman kept by a man who is high in hierarchial society in addition to his wives, e.g in the imperial harem or within a household.
  • Derived terms

    * concubinage

    See also

    * harem * polygamy * co-wife * seraglio

    References

    * Random House Unabridged Dictionary ----

    spouse

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person's husband or wife.
  • People should treat their spouses with respect.
  • * Spenser
  • At last such grace I found, and means I wrought, / That I that lady to my spouse had won.

    Derived terms

    * spousal (pos a)

    Verb

  • (dated) To wed; to espouse.
  • * 1819 , , Otho the Great , Act III, Scene II, verses 212-214
  • Do you stand possess’d
    Of any proof against the honourableness
    Of Lady Auranthe, our new-spoused daughter?

    Anagrams

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