Demirep.com

Many interesting words exist in the English language that people may or may not know. One such word is demirep. The word's etymology comes from demi and reputation. Demi is Latin for divided in half and might explain the definition developed by the English people. The word is a colloquial word that is rarely heard today. A demirep is supposed to be a woman of doubtful reputation or possibly suspected character. Another definition can be someone who is an adventuress. Demirep literally means the splitting in two of someone's reputation. The reputation might not be noticeable to the public but when someone has a split reputation they possibly keeping one in the view of other people and a different side hidden from people. The etymology of this word is an interesting and unusual word that people should be aware of. Demirep was used in 1749 by Henry Fielding in his book to describe a woman who intrigues every man she likes. In 1813, Leigh Hunt used the colloquial term to describe how a character was not what he appeared to be and that he spent time with woman of dubious behavior (demirep). In 1822, demirep was once again used to describe an opium-eater, but the word was used in the context of someone who adventures and not as the woman of doubtful reputation. Oscar Wilde was one of the last writers to use the word until Bikini Kill used it in their song, Demirep. This song was a prime example of the band's involvement in the woman's movement and the changes that the band's members were fighting for concerning rape and abuse of women. Perhaps Bikini Kill thought of this word as an appropriate word to help change what people thought and associated with the word. Demirep is one of those words that are no longer used by many people and Bikini Kill was able to create a new resurgence of this word. Many people looked up this word to find out what it meant and others asked the band at concerts. Demirep gained a new short-lived definition that is not in regular use anymore. Demirep is one of those words that when you do a search for often comes up with no response. The Webster's dictionary no longer lists an explanation for this word unless you go back to the 1828 edition. It is hard to imagine that Oscar Wilde might have been the last one to use the word if Bikini Kill had not decided to use the word in their song. Where did they come across the word? Not much is known about this question, but thanks to the band, it may get a chance to be included again as part of the modern dictionary.	Demirep.com The Bikini Kill Song Song Text