COURTESY • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Courtesy

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/kˈərtəsi/ Listen

noun

Courtesy n. (pl. courtesies)

Politeness; civility; urbanity; courtliness. "And trust thy honest-offered courtesy, With oft is sooner found in lowly sheds, With smoky rafters, than in tapestry walls And courts of princes, where it first was named, And yet is most pretended." "Pardon me, Messer Claudio, if once more I use the ancient courtesies of speech."

An act of civility or respect; an act of kindness or favor performed with politeness. "My lord, for your many courtesies I thank you."

Favor or indulgence, as distinguished from right; as, a title given one by courtesy.

Courtesy title, a title assumed by a person, or popularly conceded to him, to which he has no valid claim; as, the courtesy title of Lord prefixed to the names of the younger sons of noblemen.

Synonyms: Politeness; urbanity; civility; complaisance; affability; courteousness; elegance; refinement; courtliness; good breeding. See Politeness.

Courtesy n. (Written also curtsy and curtsey) 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. "The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony proceeds as usual."

verb

Courtesy v. t. To treat with civility. (Obs.)

Courtesy v. i. (past & past part. courtesied; pres. part. 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.

See images of 'Courtesy'

Etymology of 'Courtesy'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Courtesy" Quotes from Famous Books

... the camels, asked me to dinner, and, oh! how delicious it felt to sit on a mat among the camels and strange bales of goods and eat the hot tough bread, sour milk and dates, offered with such stately courtesy. We got quite intimate over our leather cup of sherbet (brown sugar and water), and the handsome jet-black men, with features as beautiful as those of the young Bacchus, described the distant lands ...

— Letters from Egypt • Lucie Duff Gordon

... then, alone, since there 's no remedy, I mean to prove this lady's courtesy. Come hither, Captain. ...

— King Henry VI, First Part • William Shakespeare [Aldus edition]

... came sluicing aft from her tilted bows, falling off a little with a vicious leeward roll when a comber bigger than usual smote her to weather, and coming up again streaming to meet the next. Sometimes she forged ahead in what is called at sea, by courtesy, a "smooth," and all the time shroud and stay to weather gave out tumultuous harmonies, and the slack of every rope to leeward blew ...

— Hawtrey's Deputy • Harold Bindloss

... this Spanish gentleman very patient in his sickness and ever of a grave and chivalrous courtesy, insomuch that as our fellowship lengthened so grew my regard for him. He was, beside, a man of deep learning and excellent judgment and his conversation and conduct a growing ...

— Martin Conisby's Vengeance • Jeffery Farnol

... my attentions nor am I pleased with paying them; from henceforth, and were I to remain a hundred years in Malaga, I would not continue to serenade her in this spot. So proceed on your journey, and God be with you." He then once more greeted his conquered adversary with serious and solemn courtesy, and withdrew. Heimbert followed him, after having cordially shaken hands with the two youths, saying, "No, dear young sirs, do not let it ever again enter your heads to interfere in any honorable contest. Do ...

— The Two Captains • Friedrich de La Motte-Fouque

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