factoressn.
/ˌfaktəˈrɛs/, /ˈfakt(ə)rᵻs/, U.S. /ˈfækt(ə)rəs/ Now somewhat rare.† 2. spec. (a) A woman, other than his wife, with whom a man has a long-lasting sexual relationship, a mistress; (b) a procuress, bawd, brothel keeper. Obsolete.
1. A female factor or agent. Also with modifying word.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > delegated authority > one having delegated or derived authority > [noun] > one who acts for another > female
factrix1584
procuratrix1584
factoress1603
agentess1757
1603 J. Manningham Diary 2 Apr. (1976) 220 Mr Marrow..useth his wife verry hardly, would not allow her mony nor clothes..made hir daughter sole factress.
1648 J. Beaumont Psyche viii. xcviii. 123/2 This made the just Creator grant Commission To Vengeance, his most trusty Factresse.
1667 R. L'Estrange tr. F. de Quevedo Visions 230 These are our best Factresses in the world.
1722 London Gaz. No. 6094/3 Mrs. Ann Harland..Coal-Factoress.
1792 J. Walcot Hist. Pious Indian Convert 233 The Queen of these revels is the factoress of hell.
1836 Lady's Mag. June 412/2 A full-blown family of rich hop-factors and factoresses.
1875 S. B. A. Macfoy Let. 4 Nov. in Papers rel. to Her Majesty's Possessions in W. Afr. (1876) i. 41 One Miss Lavina, factoress for one Mr. Samuel T. Macaulay.
1922 Glasgow Herald 31 Jan. 9/7 It was the factoress they meant—they would have got about £50.
1998 R. C. Borden & N. Belova tr. L. Dobychin Town of N 8 Kagan the factoress sent us a new nanny.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > brothel-keeper
bawd1362
bordellera1393
mother1596
brothel1604
brothel master1608
factoress1611
cock bawd1632
brothel keeper1710
padrona1744
case keeper1757
madame1871
madam1879
whore-mistress?1885
whorehouse madam1916
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > [noun] > illicit intimacy > person > a mistress
chevesea700
wifeOE
bed-sister1297
concubine1297
leman1297
file1303
speciala1400
womanc1400
chamberer?a1425
mistress?a1439
cousin1470
doxy?1515
doll1560
pinnacea1568
nobsya1575
lier-by1583
sweetheart1589
she-friend1600
miss1606
underput1607
concupy1609
lig-by1610
factoress1611
leveret1617
night-piece1621
belly-piece1632
dolly1648
lie-bya1656
madamc1660
small girl1671
natural1674
convenient1676
lady of the lake1678
pure1688
tackle1688
sultana1703
kind girl1712
bosom-slave1728
pop1785
chère amie1792
fancy-woman1819
hetaera1820
fancy-piece1821
poplolly1821
secondary wife1847
other woman1855
fancy-girl1892
querida1902
wifelet1983
1611 Bp. J. Hall Epist. III. v. i. 13 Still the diuel begins with Eue... Marcion had his Factoresse at Rome.
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (ii. 19) 1016 Magus had his Helena,..Priscillian his Galla; every one his Factoresse: as the Iesuites are not without their collapsed Ladies.
1653 J. Ford Queen ii. sig. C/1 How long have you been a factress for such Merchants, Shaparoon... I a factress? I am even well enough serv'd for my good will; and this is my requital. Factress, quoth you?
1677 E. Ravenscroft Wrangling Lovers ii. i. 16 Last night a cunning love factress, that very well understood her trade, as my master was coming home to his lodging, meets him at the turning of a street.
1725 E. Howard Misc. Prose & Verse 71 I loath thy Blandishments, and Syrens Air, Tartarian Nymph, sly Factoress of Hell.
?1800 Unfortunate & at last Happy Lady 20 Compose yourself, replied he, and seem a little pleasant before the old factoress of hell.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1603