What exactly is a 'whore'?

Answer 1

The derrogatory and negative term "whore" dates back to before the 12th century and originates from various spellings of "hore" (with no 'w').

It was orginally used to denote an "immoral" woman. The immoral woman status included adulterer or prostitutes--any female who gave sexual intercourse in exchange for money. Only in the last 25-30 years have males been also called "whores" for selling sex for money.

Religions still rely on the word "whore" to indicate immorality, specifically sexual immorality. While use of the word lessened in the 1980s, it quickly regained it's use in spiritual and religious upbringing, especially since the word is used in The Bible.

As well over the past 10 years (especially), young people have combined the word "whore" with another word to create new phrases that indicate "an obsession". For example, "He's an information whore" means the man has an obsession for collecting or sharing information. A "definition whore" is one who obsessively makes up fake definitions. A "clothes whore" is a man or woman who obsessively buys clothing and follows every new fashion. "Whore", therefore, has evolved to include any obsession or indulgence, especially when the obsession is beyond what most people would do.

Answer 2

• Polly Adler, New York Madam, 1920s -1940s
• Josie Arlington, Storyville, New Orleans Madam
• Aspasia, hetaera companion of Pericles
• Laura Bell, the "Queen of London whoredom"
• Theresa Berkeley, 19th-century dominatrix
• Calamity Jane, frontierswoman
• Alice Chambers, 19th century Dodge City prostitute
• Annie Chapman, one of the "canonical five" victims of Jack the Ripper
• Heidi Fleiss, the "Hollywood Madam"
• Veronica Franco, Venetian courtesan and poet
• Jean Genet, French writer and political activist
• Raymond Gravel, Canadian member of Parliament
• Nell Gwynne, courtesan to Charles II of England
• Xaviera Hollander, former callgirl and madam, Author of "The Happy Hooker"
• Mary Jane Kelly, one of the "canonical five" victims of Jack the Ripper
• Mata Hari (born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle)
• Elizabeth Villa, 19th Century SW United States prostitution Godmother
• Clara Ward, Princesse de Caraman-Chimay, daughter of a Michigan lumberman who spent most of her life in Europe
• Nicole Leguay d'Oliva, French prostitute involved in the Affair of the Diamond Necklace who impersonated Marie Antoinette
• Carol Leigh, a.k.a. Scarlot Harlot, coined the term "sex worker" [1]
• Gerda Munsinger, Soviet spy
• Mary Ann Nichols, one of the "canonical five" victims of Jack the Ripper
• Barbara Payton, 1940s film starlet who turned to prostitution in the late 1950s after the end of her career and collapse of her marriage
• Cora Pearl, 19th century French courtesan
• Phryne, Greek hetaera
• Madame de Pompadour, courtesan to Louis XV of France.
• Tracy Quan, author of the Nancy Chan trilogy
• Rahab, Biblical prostitute who assisted the Hebrews in capturing Jericho (Joshua 2:1-7)
• Grisélidis Réal, Swiss prostitute and writer
• Sabrina Aset, High Priestess of the Church Of The Most High Goddess
• Shady Sadie (Josephine Marcus) Courtesan who had an affair with Wyatt Earp
• Sally Stanford, Dean of San Francisco Madams, Restaurauter and Mayor of Sausalito, California
• Valerie Solanas, street prostitute turned attempted assassin
• Elizabeth Stride, one of the "canonical five" victims of Jack the Ripper
• Martha Tabram, a possible victim of Jack the Ripper
• Valérie Tasso, French author
• Michelle Tea, author, has written extensively about her experiences as a prostitute [2]
• Thaïs, Greek hetaera who lived during the time of Alexander the great
• Theodora, Empress of Byzantium
• Libby Thompson, "Squirrel Tooth Alice," madam of a brothel in Sweetwater, Texas
• Lulu White, Storyville, New Orleans Madam
• Melissa Wolf, former Penthouse Pet and actress
• Su Xiaoxiao, Chinese courtesan of 5th century