Brewer's: Scheherazade

[She-he'-ra-zay'-de]. Daughter of the Grand Vizier of the Indies. The Sultan Schahriah, having discovered the infidelity of his sultana, resolved to marry a fresh wife every night and have her strangled at day-break. Scheherazade entreated to become his wife, and so amused him with tales for a thousand and one nights that he revoked his cruel decree, bestowed his affection on his amiable and talented wife, and called her “the liberator of the sex.” (Arabian Nights.)

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