Syn. — Politeness; urbanity; civility; complaisance; affability; courteousness; elegance; refinement; courtliness; good
breeding. See Politeness.
Courtesy
(Courte"sy) n. [See the preceding word.] An act of civility, respect, or reverence, made by
women, consisting of a slight depression or dropping of the body, with bending of the knees. [Written
also curtsy.]
The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony proceeds as usual.
Golgsmith.
Courtesy
(Courte"sy), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Courtesied (-sid); p. pr. & vb. n. Courtesying.] To make
a respectful salutation or movement of respect; esp. (with reference to women), to bow the body slightly,
with bending of the knes.
Courtesy
(Courte"sy), v. t. To treat with civility. [Obs.]
Courthouse
(Court"house`) n.
1. A house in which established courts are held, or a house appropriated to courts and public meetings.
[U.S.]
2. A county town; — so called in Virginia and some others of the Southern States.
Providence, the county town of Fairfax, is unknown by that name, and passes as Fairfax Court House.
Barlett.
Courtier
(Court"ier) n. [From Court.]
1. One who is in attendance at the court of a prince; one who has an appointment at court.
You know I am no courtier, nor versed in state affairs.
Bacon.
This courtier got a frigate, and that a company.
Macaulay.
2. One who courts or solicits favor; one who flatters.
There was not among all our princes a greater courtier of the people than Richard III.
Suckling.
Courtiery
(Court"ier*y) n. The manners of a courtier; courtliness. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Court-leet
(Court"-leet`) n. (Eng. Law) A court of record held once a year, in a particular hundred,
lordship, or manor, before the steward of the leet. Blackstone.
Courtlike
(Court"like`) a. After the manner of a court; elegant; polite; courtly.
Courtliness
(Court"li*ness) n. [From Courtly.] The quality of being courtly; elegance or dignity of manners.
Courtling
(Court"ling) n. [Court + -ling.] A sycophantic courtier. B. Jonson.
Courtly
(Court"ly) a. [From Court.]
1. Relating or belonging to a court.
2. Elegant; polite; courtlike; flattering.
In courtly company or at my beads.
Shak.
