harem
UK: ˈhɑː.riːm | US: ˈhɛr.əm
n. 1. The separate part of a Muslim household reserved for women.
n. 2. A group of female animals sharing a single mate.
n. 3. (Historically) The wives, concubines, or female servants of a polygamous man.
The word "harem" traces back to the Arabic ḥarīm, meaning "forbidden" or "sacred," derived from the root ḥ-r-m (to prohibit). It originally referred to the private quarters of a household where women and children lived, shielded from outsiders. Over time, the term entered European languages through Ottoman Turkish, retaining its core idea of a secluded space but acquiring exoticized connotations in Western contexts. The morpheme har preserves the "forbidden" essence, while em (from -īm) denotes a collective or place.
The sultan's harem was guarded by eunuchs.
In some species, males maintain a harem of females.
Western travelers often romanticized the idea of an Ottoman harem.
The palace's harem quarters were lavishly decorated.
Historically, the harem served as both a private and political space.