prostitute

Etymology

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

verb

1. (transitive, reflexive) To offer (oneself or someone else) for sexual activity in exchange for money.
2. (transitive, derogatory) To sacrifice (oneself, one's talents etc.) in return for profit or other advantage; to exploit for base purposes.
   [T]heſe, their rights / In the vile ſtreets they proſtitute to ſale; / Their ancient rights, their dignities, their laws, / Their native glorious freedom. 1740, John Dyer, “The Ruins of Rome. A Poem.”, in Poems. … Viz. I. Grongar Hill. II. The Ruins of Rome. III. The Fleece, in Four Books, London: Printed by John Hughs, for Messrs. R[obert] and J[ames] Dodsley,[…], published 1759, →OCLC, pages 42–43

adj

1. (obsolete) Debased, corrupt; seeking personal gain by dishonourable means.
   [H]e speaks a languages that merits not reply, and which can only excite contempt for his prostitute principles, or pity for his ignorance. 1791, Thomas Paine, Rights of Man
2. Taking part in promiscuous sexual activity, licentious; (later, chiefly as attributive use of noun) that is a prostitute.
   They rightly say that attacks against prostitute women are common and that it's only when five are murdered in one place that it starts to provoke debate. 2008, Niki Adams, Lisa Longstaff, The Guardian, letters, 23 February
3. (obsolete) Exposed, subjected (to something shameful).
   As a matter of ease, exposed and prostitute to every Mother-wit, and to be attained without any great care or study. 1651, Thomas Hobbes, Philosophicall rudiments concerning government and society

noun

1. Any person (especially a woman) who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood.
   1. A woman who has sexual intercourse or engages in other sexual activity for payment, especially as a means of livelihood.
      Unfortunately, there is to my knowledge no visual evidence for the dress of the Roman prostitute, but the literary sources present us with a range of prostitute clothing (from rich accoutrements all the way down to nothing), […] 2012, Kelly Olson, Dress and the Roman Woman: Self-Presentation and Society, page 50
2. 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.
   Madonna would do anything for money, you know, she's a total prostitute. And I've got nothing against prostitutes. 2019-05-18, Jack Shepherd, quoting Bobby Gillespie, “Primal Scream frontman calls Madonna a 'total prostitute' for performing at Eurovision in Israel”, in The Independent