noun
- Plural of hetaerism; systems or practices of concubinage or informal sexual unions, particularly in ancient Greece.
Usage: historical; archaic; academic
Examples
- Ancient Greek hetaerisms were documented by classical historians studying social customs.
- Scholars debate the role of hetaerisms in Athenian society during the Classical period.
- The practice of hetaerisms differed significantly from formal marriage arrangements in ancient civilizations.