To call someone a whore or treat them as one; to degrade or insult someone by associating them with promiscuity.
From Middle English 'be-' (a prefix meaning 'to cause to be' or 'to cover with') + 'whore' (a person engaged in sexual work). The 'be-' prefix was used productively in Early Modern English to create verbs meaning 'to make' or 'to treat as.' This word reflects the harsh judgment and social condemnation characteristic of earlier centuries.
The 'be-' prefix in English was incredibly productive in the 1500s-1700s, creating vivid verbs that made abstract or permanent conditions by combining with nouns—'befriend' means to make into a friend, so 'bewhore' meant to make or declare someone a whore. Most of these 'be-' words disappeared because English speakers found more efficient ways to express these ideas.
Dehumanizes women through sexual categorization. Historically weaponized to shame and control female sexuality and autonomy.
Avoid entirely. The term carries irredeemable dehumanizing connotation with no neutral use case.
["Use specific, respectful language when discussing work or relationships"]
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