If I remember my French, demi monde is half world if that helps.
?Know your Roots, They are Long and Strong
-----Original Message-----
From: Sunshine49 <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, 23 May 2008 6:18 pm
Subject: Re: Demimonde / Demi Monde (OE definition)
Might it be a woman who was of a somewhat good family, who was the mistress of a man, a "kept woman", and thus not part of "acceptable" society, yet not a prostitute who sleeps around for money? Like perhaps the actresses who were the mistresses of some of the kings of Europe. Not as trashy to society as a street walker, but not one who has followed society's rules and thus is not really accepted in society. I suppose women who were from wealthy families got married into another wealthy family but then had discreet lovers and no one much batted an eye. Women from the lowest classes would be prostitutes.?
?
Nancy?
?
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I was never lost, but I was bewildered once for three days.?
?
--Daniel Boone?
?
?
On May 23, 2008, at 4:19 PM, Lewis Averett wrote:?
?
> The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning of demi-monde as "the?
> class of women of doubtful reputation and social standing, upon the?
> outskirts of 'society.' (sometimes extended, though improperly, to?
> include courtesans, in general." [Dumas the younger coined the phrase?
> "half-and-half society."]?
>?
>?
>?
> -----Original Message-----?
> From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family > history.?
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paul Drake?
> Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 3:15 PM?
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Demimonde / Demi Monde?
>?
> In case you have not received a response, you might make a note that?
> Johnson?
> (1755, 1802) does not list either variation of the term "demi-monde,?
> though?
> other words identifying a prostitute do appear. Still though, > Walker in?
> 1823 - but 20+ years later - defines the word "courtezan" as "a > woman of?
> the?
> town; a prostitute." Note the spelling.?
>?
> Neither Johnson nor Walker list "demimonde" or "demi-monde", nor does?
> Dymock?
> in 1880. I suspect the word is French in origin, however I have no?
> French?
> dictionary.?
>?
> If you gain an answer to your question, I would much enjoy knowing the?
> meaning. Thanks?
>?
> Paul?
>?
> -----Original Message-----?
> From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family > history.?
> Does?
> anyone know of another contemporary meaning of this word other than?
> "courtesan" or "mistress"??
>?
> I've found three women in the 1900 census in Campbell County whose?
> occupation is clearly "Demimonde" or "Demi Monde." The three women > were?
> all?
> single, white, and ranging in age from 25 to 32. Two lived alone; one?
> lived?
> with her father. I wonder if the census taker was really trying to?
> connote?
> an occupation more "respectable" than "prostitute," or if he was just?
> being?
> polite.?
>?
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