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Harem

3 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means historically, the private quarters of women in a Muslim household; loosely, a group of women associated with one man
1
Stage 1 of 3
harim
Arabic · medieval
"forbidden place, sanctuary"
meaning "forbidden" or "sacred place"
2
Stage 2 of 3
harem
Ottoman Turkish · medieval
"the private family quarters"
the private, secluded family quarters of a household
3
Stage 3 of 3
harem
English · 1600s
"the private living quarters of women in a Muslim household"
adopted through European accounts of Ottoman households
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