noun
seraglio
suh-RAL-yoh/səˈræljoʊ/
The secluded household of a ruler's wives and concubines.
The sultan's seraglio occupies a secluded wing of the palace.
Etymology
The underlying word means a palace or court; in English, it designated the secluded women's quarters within such a household. Italian influence from a similar word meaning “enclosure” probably helped shape the term.
In context
to avoid the risk she might run among the women of his seraglio, and distrustful of himself, he commanded her to be placed in the house of some Moorish ladies of rank
More examples
- Only trusted attendants may enter the seraglio.
- The ruler's wives and concubines live together in the seraglio.
- The novel follows a young woman living in the emperor's seraglio.
Forms
seraglio · seraglios
Similar words
- harem
- Can name a nonroyal household of wives and concubines.