hetaera

noun

he·​tae·​ra hi-ˈtir-ə 

variants or hetaira

hi-ˈtī-rə 

plural hetaerae hi-ˈtir-(ˌ)ē  or hetaeras or hetairas or hetairai hi-ˈtī-ˌrī 

1

: one of a class of highly cultivated courtesans in ancient Greece

2

: demimondaine

Word History

Etymology

Greek hetaira, literally, companion, feminine of hetairos

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1