Harem (Turkish from Arab ?ar?m, forbidden) refers to the sphere of women in a polygynous household and their quarters enclosed and forbidden to men. It originated in the Near East and came to the Western world via the Ottoman Empire. In more modern usage, it may also denote a number of women followers of a man. Other languages, the term serraglio (Italian from Persian sar?y "palace, enclosed courts") carry similar meanings.]] Etymology The word has been recorded in the English language since 1634, via the Turkish harem, from the Arabic ?ar?m (forbidden), originally entailing "women's quarters," literally: "something forbidden or kept safe," from the root ?arama "he guarded, forbade." The triliteral ?-R-M is common to Arabic words entailing forbidden.The word is cognate to the Hebrew ?erem, rendered with Greek ?anáthema when it applies to excommunication

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