Definitions of the word "harem"

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about the word "harem". Indeed, by us Westerners the term seems very often referred to as "the enclosure of the female property of a sultan". Some dictionaries even limit their definitions to muslim practice, where others have much wider interpretations that go as far as "respectful female privacy".

Let's have a look at some of the definitions I found browsing the internet:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harem: The word itself means: privacy that is very respected and honored. Coming from the Arab tradition, the harîm (compare haram) is the part of the household forbidden to male strangers. In Western languages such as English, this term refers collectively to the women in any polygynous household as well as to the 'no men allowed' area, or in more modern usage to a number of women followers or admirers of a man.


• http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harem:
  • a usually secluded house or part of a house allotted to women in a Muslim household
  • the wives, concubines, female relatives, and servants occupying a harem
  • a group of women associated with one man
  • a group of females associated with one male -- used of polygamous animals


• The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition:
  • A house or a section of a house reserved for women members of a Muslim household.
  • The wives, concubines, female relatives, and servants occupying such a place.
  • A group of women sexual partners for one man.


• http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/harem
  • the part of a Muslim palace or house reserved for the residence of women.
  • the women in a Muslim household, including the mother, sisters, wives, concubines, daughters, entertainers, and servants.
  • Animal Behavior. a social group of females, as elephant seals, accompanied or followed by one fertile male who denies other males access to the group.
  • Facetious or Offensive. a group of women associated in any way with one man or household: Father joked that he has a harem of five daughters.

On quite some polyamory websites and blogs, I find the word "harem" or "harem-like" as a reference to explain what polyamory is not. In those cases however, the word "harem" refers to the possessive meaning of "owing women" or "enforced relationship". On this blog, the word "harem" refers to the situation in which a man and many women share an intimite relationship. There is no question of any kind of possession. My first posts will clarify that too.

I hope this post eliminates some misunderstandings.