subject: The history of prostitution [print this page] The term prostitute has has derived from the combination of two Latin words pro and statuere. To translate it literally it becomes to expose or to place upfront. Common alternatives for prostitute include escort and whore; however, not all professional escorts are prostitutes. A variety of terms are used for those who engage in prostitution, some of which distinguish between different kinds or imply a value judgment about them. Use of the word whore is widely considered pejorative, especially in its modern slang form of ho'. Those seeking to remove the social stigma associated with prostitution often promote terminology such as sex worker, commercial sex worker (CSW), "tantric engineer" (coined by author Robert Anton Wilson), or sex trade worker. A hooker or streetwalker solicits customers in public places; a call girl makes appointments by phone. The English word whore derives from the Old English word hra, from the Indo-European root k meaning "desire". In Germany most prostitutes' organizations deliberately use the word Hure (whore) since they feel that prostitute is a bureaucratic term. Correctly or not, prostitute without specifying a gender is commonly assumed to be female; compound terms such as male prostitution or male escort are therefore used to identify males. Those offering services to female customers are commonly known as gigolos; those offering services to male customers are hustlers or rent boys. Escorts are also considered prostitutes .There are several escort agencies who supply male or female escorts, to clients who can spend money for a one night stand or for companionship. In fact, the verb "to court" originally meant "to be or reside at court", and later came to mean "to behave as a courtier" and then "to pay amorous attention to somebody". In Renaissance Europe, courtiers played an extremely important role in upper-class society. It was customary for royal couples to lead separate lives marrying simply to preserve bloodlines and to secure political alliances men and women would often seek gratification and companionship from people living at court. The most intimate companion of a ruler was called the favorite which is an older version of modern day. escorted. Augustine of Hippo held that: "If you expel prostitution from society, you will unsettle everything on account of lusts". The general tolerance of prostitution was for the most part reluctant, and many canonists urged prostitutes to reform. During the Middle Ages, prostitution was commonly found in urban contexts. Although all forms of sexual activity outside of marriage were regarded as sinful by the Roman Catholic Church, prostitution was tolerated because it was held to prevent the greater evils of rape, sodomy, and masturbation and other forms of prohibited adultwork
