What does "prostitute" mean?

Prostitute: 2. To devote to base or unworthy purposes; to give up to low or indiscriminate use; as, to prostitute talents; to prostitute official powers. Milton.

Additional senses

2.Openly given up to lewdness; devoted to base or infamous purposes. Made bold by want, and prostitute for bread. Prior
3.A woman giver to indiscriminate lewdness; a strumpet; a harlot.
4.A base hireling; a mercenary; one who offers himself to infamous employments for hire. No hireling she, no prostitute to praise. Pope.

Sources

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
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Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00