Finesentence logo

Seraglio: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿฐ
Add to dictionary

seraglio

 

[ sษ™หˆrรฆl.joสŠ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

historical context

A seraglio refers to a harem or a women's quarters in Ottoman and Persian cultures. In many historical narratives, these spaces were associated with the wives and concubines of the emperor or a high-ranking official. The seraglio was often a secluded part of a palace, symbolizing both luxury and the complexities of power dynamics within royal families. The term is derived from the Italian word 'serraglio', which translates to 'enclosure'. While the concept primarily relates to the Ottoman Empire, its implications reflect broader themes of gender and confinement found in polygamous societies.

Synonyms

enclosure, harem, women's quarters

Examples of usage

  • The sultan's seraglio housed many concubines.
  • Life in the seraglio was strictly regulated.
  • Art often depicted the opulence of the seraglio.
  • Many tales reveal mysteries of the seraglio.

Translations

Translations of the word "seraglio" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น serail

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคนเคฐเคฎ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Serail

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ serail

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัะตั€ะฐะปัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ serail

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚ปใƒฉใ‚คใƒซ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท sรฉrail

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ serail

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท serail

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์„ธ๋ผ์ผ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุณุฑุงูŠุง

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ serail

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ serail

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅกžๆ‹‰ไผŠๅฐ”

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ serail

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ serail

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัะตั€ะตะน

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒ”แƒ แƒแƒ˜แƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ serail

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ serail

Word origin

The term 'seraglio' traces its roots back to the Italian language, derived from the Arabic word 'saray', which refers to a palace or dwelling. It gained prominence during the Renaissance when European authors and artists began exploring and depicting the lives of those within the Ottoman Empire, including the intricacies associated with the harem. The seraglio became a symbol of both Eastern exoticism and Western fantasies about the lives of the sultans and their numerous wives and concubines. As Western interest in the Ottoman culture grew, the concept of the seraglio was frequently romanticized and misrepresented, leading to a blend of facts and fictions in literature and art. Today, the term serves as a historical reference point, encapsulating a specific cultural practice and its associated power structures, illustrating the complex relationship between gender, race, and colonialism in the global narrative.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,660 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.