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Handmaiden vs Concubine - What's the difference?

handmaiden | concubine |

As nouns the difference between handmaiden and concubine

is that handmaiden is while concubine is a woman who lives with a man, but who is not a wife.

handmaiden

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Derived terms

    * handmaidenhood * handmaidenly

    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 ----