whore
UK: hɔː | US: hɔːr
n. a person who engages in sexual activity for payment; a prostitute (often considered offensive or derogatory)
v. to work as a prostitute (rare, archaic)
The word "whore" traces back to Old English hōre, derived from Proto-Germanic hōrǭ, meaning "adulterer" or "fornicator." It shares roots with Old Norse hóra and Gothic hors, all linked to sexual promiscuity. The term has retained its core meaning but gained strong pejorative connotations over time, reflecting societal attitudes toward sex work. Unlike many English words, "whore" resists morpheme breakdown due to its ancient, compact Germanic origin.
The novel's antagonist cruelly referred to the woman as a "whore" to demean her.
In medieval Europe, a whore might face public punishment for her profession.
The term "whore" is now widely considered vulgar and misogynistic.
Some feminist scholars reclaim the word to challenge stigma around sex work.
Shakespeare's plays occasionally use "whore" as both insult and dramatic device.