agapetae
plural noun
aga·pe·tae
\ˌä-gə-ˈpā-ˌtī, ˌa-gə-; ˌa-gə-ˈpē-ˌtē\
Definition of agapetae
: women of the early church who lived under a vow of chastity in the same house with men bound to strict celibacy
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Origin and Etymology of agapetae
Late Latin, from Late Greek agapētai, plural of agapētē, from Greek, feminine of agapētos beloved, desirable, to be acquiesced in, from agapan to welcome, love
First Known Use: circa 1823
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