Concubine vs Spouse - What's the difference?
concubine | spouse |
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.
A person's husband or wife.
* Spenser
(dated) To wed; to espouse.
* 1819 , , Otho the Great , Act III, Scene II, verses 212-214
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)Derived terms
* concubinageSee also
* harem * polygamy * co-wife * seraglioReferences
* Random House Unabridged Dictionary ----spouse
English
Noun
(en noun)- People should treat their spouses with respect.
- 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
- Do you stand possess’d
- Of any proof against the honourableness
- Of Lady Auranthe, our new-spoused daughter?