subs. (common).—A harlot: see quot. 1892 and TART.
1809. P. H. MATY [RIESBECK’S Travels through Germany, xx.]. Many an ASPASIA capable of being classed in the same line with her immortal prototype.
1832. BULWER-LYTTON, Godolphin, xxi. Miss Vernon is another ASPASIA, I hear.
1854. THACKERAY, The Newcomes, xxxi. He ‘ranged himself,’ as the French is, shortly before his marriage, just like any other young bachelor; took leave of Phryne and ASPASIE in the coulisses, and proposed to devote himself henceforth to his charming young wife.
1886. J. MCCARTHY, and CAMPBELL PRAED, “The Right Honourable,” I. iii. Your really great women—the Sapphos, the ASPASIAS.
1892. FENNELL, Stanford Dictionary, s.v. ASPASIA, name of one of the celebrated courtesans of Athens, called Hetærae (εταῖραι), many of whom were highly accomplished and were faithful to one lover…. Representative of a fascinating courtesan, and more rarely, of an accomplished woman.
