origins of certain slurs

[novapsyche]

etymological origin of 'whore' -- the Proto-Indo-European root qar transformed in other languages into 'lover', 'friend', 'desire'

'prostitute' -- literally means "before" + "to stand, establish"; no original negative connotation

'harlot' -- literally means "vagabond"; had both positive and negative connotations in Chaucer's time

'strumpet' -- hilarious backstory for this mysterious word--not all nouns can verb

Comments

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

It's been a long time since my Near East studies but I seem to remember something about Houri = sacred temple dancers & sexual initiators being turned into whore.

There was also something from Sumerian lore about the Goddess Inanna having mercy on the asshole god Marduk but later when Marduk's patriarchy gained power, the term "inane" came to mean stupid, empty, shallow, a slur on the goddess and all women.