Also 4 -bin, -byn, 5–6 -byne. [a. F. concubin, concubine:—L. concubīnus, concubīna, f. con- together + cubāre to lie.]
1. A woman who cohabits with a man without being his wife; a kept mistress.
In reference to polygamous peoples, as the ancient Hebrews and the Mohammedans: A ‘secondary wife’ whose position is recognized by law, but is inferior to that of a wife.
1297. R. Glouc. (1724), 27. Astrilde hire bedsuster (hire lordes concubine).
a. 1300. Cursor M., 8887 (Cott.). O quens had [salamon] hundrets seuen; Thre hundret concubins, he sais, Efter þe laghes war in þaa dais.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 650. He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn A good felawe to han his concubyn A twelve moneth.
1388. Wyclif, Gen. xxv. 6. Sotheli he ȝaf ȝiftis to the sones of concubyns [1382 secoundarye wyues].
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxviii. (Arb.), 71. He [the cardinal] hath a concubyne whom he moche loueth.
1515. More, in Grafton, Chron., II. 787. As she wist her selfe to simple to be hys wyfe, so thought she her selfe to good to be hys Concubine. [Cf. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. ii. 98.]
1530. Palsgr., 155. Prestre, a preeste: presteresse, a preestes concubyne.
1563. Homilies, II. (1859), 373. After the phrase of the Scripture a concubine is an honest name; for every concubine is a lawful wife, but every wife is not a concubine.
1611. Bible, Dan. v. 3. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God, which was at Ierusalem, and the king and his princes, his wiues, and his concubines dranke in them.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1698), I. xiii. 365. Women-servants, whom they hired of their Masters for Concubines.
1807. Robinson, Archæol. Græca, V. xi. 452. The most essential difference between γυνὴ and παλλακὴ, wife and concubine, consisted in the former having a dowry, and the latter none.
1815. Elphinstone, Acc. Caubul (1842), I. 241. Two wives, with as many concubines, are reckoned a liberal establishment for the middle classes.
fig. 1843. Faber, Lett. (1869), 207. If we are not now in the One Church, but in a Concubine (so long as it be a doubt).
attrib. 1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 19. A man may have 4 wives at the same time, and, according to common opinion, as many concubine slaves as he pleases.
† 2. A male paramour. Obs. [= L. concubīnus, F. concubin.]
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, III. xxiv. 95 a. Because she had had another concubyne.
c. 1536. Indictment Anne Boleyn (Trench). Her adulterers and concubines.
1540. Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), Q vj. If a woman purpose to forsake her housbande for his concubines.
