Today we remember Mata Hari, who was born on this date in 1876. Her story is well-known: she was a Dutch citizen (nee Margaretha Zelle) who moved to Paris in 1905 after her marriage ended. The former Mrs. McLeod renamed herself Mata Hari (which translates roughly as "eye of the day" in Malay) and began a life of intrigue, exotic dancing, and wartime travel that ended with her death—as a spy—before a firing squad in October 1917. (来源：EnglishCN.com)

Regardless of whether she was a double agent, Mata Hari was a courtesan, a femme fatale, and an established member of the demimonde. What differentiates these terms? Courtesan—a prostitute or kept woman with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele—is the oldest of the three terms. It first appeared in English during the 1500s, entered our language from Middle French, and has a northern Italian dialectal ancestor meaning "woman courtier."

Demimonde entered English from French in the mid-1800s, half a century before Mata Hari entered Paris. The literal translation of demimonde—"half world"—hints at its shadowy meaning: "a class of women on the fringes of respectable society supported by wealthy lovers."

Finally, there's femme fatale—literally "disastrous woman" in French. First spotted in English print five years before Mata Hari died, femme fatale has two meanings: "a seductive woman who lures men into dangerous or compromising situations" and "a woman who attracts men by an aura of charm and mystery."