Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Concubine
Con′cu-bine
,Noun.
[F., fr. L.
concubina
; con-
+ cubare
to lie down, concumbere
to lie together, akin to E. cubit
.] 1.
A woman who cohabits with a man without being his wife; a paramour.
☞ Concubine has been sometimes, but rarely, used of a male paramour as well as of a female.
Trench.
2.
A wife of inferior condition; a lawful wife, but not united to the man by the usual ceremonies, and of inferior condition. Such were Hagar and Keturah, the concubines of Abraham; and such concubines were allowed by the Roman laws. Their children were not heirs of their father.
– Conˊcul-ca′tion
, Noun.
[Obs.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Concubine
CONCUBINE
,Noun.
1.
A woman who cohabits with a man, without the authority of a legal marriage; a woman kept for lewd purposes; a kept mistress.2.
A wife of inferior condition; a lawful wife, but not united to the man by the usual ceremonies, and of inferior condition. Such were Hagar and Keturah, the concubines of Abraham; and such concubines were allowed by the Roman laws.