Seraglio: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฐ
seraglio
[ sษหrรฆl.joส ]
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:
๐ต๐น serail
๐ฎ๐ณ เคนเคฐเคฎ
๐ฉ๐ช Serail
๐ฎ๐ฉ serail
๐บ๐ฆ ัะตัะฐะปั
๐ต๐ฑ serail
๐ฏ๐ต ใปใฉใคใซ
๐ซ๐ท sรฉrail
๐ช๐ธ serail
๐น๐ท serail
๐ฐ๐ท ์ธ๋ผ์ผ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุณุฑุงูุง
๐จ๐ฟ serail
๐ธ๐ฐ serail
๐จ๐ณ ๅกๆไผๅฐ
๐ธ๐ฎ serail
๐ฎ๐ธ serail
๐ฐ๐ฟ ัะตัะตะน
๐ฌ๐ช แกแแ แแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ serail
๐ฒ๐ฝ serail
Etymology
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 Today, the term serves as a historical reference point, encapsulating a specific cultural practice and its associated power structures, illustrating the complex relationship between gender, race, and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.
- ...
- 32657 dialling
- 32658 samba
- 32659 rephrased
- 32660 seraglio
- 32661 thousandfold
- 32662 miry
- 32663 musicologist
- ...