id	author	title	date	pages	extension	mime	words	sentences	flesch	summary	cache	txt
en-wikipedia-org-3929		Courtesan - Wikipedia			.html	text/html	3837	341	62	Courtesan, in modern usage, is a euphemism meaning a sugar baby, escort, concubine, mistress or a prostitute, for whom the art of dignified etiquette is the means of attracting wealthy, powerful, or influential clients. In Renaissance usage, the Italian word cortigiana, feminine of cortigiano ("courtier") came to refer to a person who attends the court, and then to a well-educated and independent woman, eventually a trained artist or artisan of dance and singing, especially one associated with wealthy, powerful, or upper-class society who was given luxuries and status in exchange for entertainment and companionship.[2] The word was borrowed by English from Italian through the French form courtisane during the 16th century, especially associated to the meaning of donna di palazzo.[1] The courtesans of East Asia, particularly those of the Japanese empire, held a different social role than that of their European counterparts. Famous courtesans in history[edit] Famous courtesans in fiction[edit]	./cache/en-wikipedia-org-3929.html	./txt/en-wikipedia-org-3929.txt