different between whore vs harlotry

English

Alternative forms

• whoore (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English hore, from Old English h?re, from Proto-Germanic *h?r?, from Proto-Indo-European *kéh?ros (“loved”), from *keh?- (“to wish; desire”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: hô, IPA^(key): /h??/
• (General American) enPR: hôr, IPA^(key): /h??/
• (rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) enPR: h?r, IPA^(key): /ho(?)?/
• (non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /ho?/
• (nonstandard but traditional, several locations) enPR: ho?or, IPA^(key): /h??/, /h??/
• Rhymes: -??(?), -??(?)
• Homophone: hoar
• Homophone: hoe (non-rhotic with dough-door merger (AAVE, non-rhotic Southern accents))
• Hyphenation: whore

Noun

whore (plural whores)

1. (derogatory) Synonym of prostitute: a person (especially a woman) who offers sexual services for payment.
   • c. 1606, William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 2

     The merciless Macdonald – worthy to be a rebel, for that the multiplying villainies of nature do swarm upon him – from the Western Isles of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied, and fortune on his damned quarrel smiling showed like a rebel's whore.

   • 1969, Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, “The Boxer”, Bridge over Troubled Water, Columbia Records:

     I come looking for a job
     But I get no offers
     Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue

2. (vulgar, derogatory) A person who is sexually promiscuous; a slut.
   • 2004, Dennis Cooper, The Sluts, page 250

     So after he fucks the shit out of me, he tells me I'm lying about his whore not being Brad.

3. (vulgar, derogatory) A person who is unscrupulous, especially one who compromises their principles for gain.
4. (vulgar, derogatory) A person who will violate behavioral standards to achieve something desired.
5. (vulgar, derogatory) A contemptible person.

Synonyms

• (prostitute): See also Thesaurus:prostitute
• (promiscuous woman): See also Thesaurus:promiscuous woman

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

whore (third-person singular simple present whores, present participle whoring, simple past and past participle whored)

1. (intransitive, vulgar) To prostitute oneself.
2. (intransitive, vulgar) To engage the services of a prostitute.
3. (transitive, vulgar) To pimp; to pander.
4. (transitive, vulgar) To promote shamelessly.

   Did you see him on that chat show, whoring his new book?

5. (intransitive, vulgar) To pursue false gods.
6. (intransitive, vulgar) To pursue false goals.
7. (transitive, slang, video games, vulgar, derogatory) To overuse something.

Synonyms

• (to prostitute oneself): sell one's body, turn tricks; see also Thesaurus:prostitute oneself
• (to pimp): pander, turn out; see also Thesaurus:pimp out
• (to promote shamelessly): tout, pimp

Derived terms

• whore around
• whore out

Translations

Anagrams

• Hower, how're, hower

English

Etymology

harlot +? -ry

Noun

harlotry (countable and uncountable, plural harlotries)

1. The trade of a harlot; prostitution.
   • 1971, New American Standard Bible, Hosea 4:11:

     Harlotry, wine, and new wine take away the understanding.

   • 1982, New King James Version, Hosea 4:11:

     Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart.

Translations