Demimondaine: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
demimondaine
[ หdษmiหmษndeษชn ]
social class
A demimondaine refers to a woman who exists on the fringes of respectable society, often associated with a lifestyle of promiscuity and relationships with wealthy men. This term was especially prevalent in 19th-century France, capturing the essence of women who were neither fully part of high society nor completely marginalized.
Synonyms
courtesan, lady of the night, mistress.
Examples of usage
- The demimondaine navigated the complexities of high society.
- In the novel, the demimondaine was adored by the wealthy elite.
- She lived the life of a demimondaine, filled with luxury and scandal.
Translations
Translations of the word "demimondaine" in other languages:
๐ต๐น demimondaine
๐ฎ๐ณ เคกเฅเคฎเฅเคฎเฅเคเคกเฅเคจ
๐ฉ๐ช Demimonde
๐ฎ๐ฉ demimondaine
๐บ๐ฆ ะดะตะผั-ะผะพะฝะดะตะนะฝะฐ
๐ต๐ฑ demimondaine
๐ฏ๐ต ใใใขใณใ
๐ซ๐ท demimondaine
๐ช๐ธ demimondaine
๐น๐ท demimondaine
๐ฐ๐ท ๋ฐ๋ฏธ๋ชฝ๋
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฏูู ูู ููุฏูู
๐จ๐ฟ demimondaine
๐ธ๐ฐ demimondaine
๐จ๐ณ ๅไธ็ๅฅณๆง
๐ธ๐ฎ demimondaine
๐ฎ๐ธ demimondaine
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะดะตะผะธะผะพะฝะดะตะนะฝ
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแแแแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ demimondaine
๐ฒ๐ฝ demimondaine
Etymology
The term 'demimondaine' is derived from the French language, where 'demi' translates to 'half' or 'partly,' and 'mondaine' refers to 'worldly' or 'of the world.' The word emerged in the 19th century during a time when societal norms around gender and sexuality were rapidly evolving. It specifically described women who lived in a world that was not fully accepted by mainstream high society but who still engaged in relationships and activities that catered to the wealthy. The demimondaine concept often highlighted the tensions between respectability and desire, and it reflected changing attitudes toward women's roles in society, often critiqued through literature and art of the period. This archetype persisted into modern times, influencing cultural representations of women who occupy ambiguous social positions.