prostitute

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*per-der.?
2. Proto-Indo-European*pér
3. Proto-Indo-European*pró
4. Proto-Indo-European*pro-
5. Proto-Italic*pro-
6. Latinprō-
7. Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-
8. Proto-Indo-European*stéh₂-tu-s ~ *sth₂-téw-s
9. Proto-Italic*status
10. Proto-Italic*statujō
11. Proto-Italic*statuō
12. Latinstatuō
13. Latinprōstituō
14. Latinprōstitūtus
15. English todayprostitute

From Latin prōstitūtus, past participle of prōstituō, from prō̆ (“for, before”) + statuō (“to set up, to erect”).

First known use, by meaning

• 16th–19th c. Debased, corrupt; seeking personal gain by dishonourable means.
• from 16th c. Taking part in promiscuous sexual activity, licentious; (later, chiefly as attributive use of noun) that is a prostitute.
• 16th–18th c. Exposed, subjected (to something shameful).
• from 18th c. Any person (especially a woman) who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood.
• from 17th c. A woman who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood.
• from 17th c. A person who does, or offers to do, a demeaning or dishonourable activity for money or personal gain; someone who acts in a dishonourable way for personal advantage.
• from 16th c. To offer (oneself or someone else) for sexual activity in exchange for money.