COURTESY
courtesy
(noun) a courteous or respectful or considerate act
courtesy, good manners
(noun) a courteous manner
courtesy
(noun) a courteous or respectful or considerate remark
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
courtesy (countable and uncountable, plural courtesies)
(uncountable) Polite behavior.
(countable) A polite gesture or remark, especially as opposed to an obligation or standard practice.
(uncountable) Consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence.
(uncountable) Willingness or generosity in providing something needed.
A curtsey.
(legal) The life interest that the surviving husband has in the real or heritable estate of his wife.
Verb
courtesy (third-person singular simple present courtesies, present participle courtesying, simple past and past participle courtesied)
Alternative form of curtsey
Adjective
courtesy (not comparable) (used only before the noun)
Given or done as a polite gesture.
Supplied free of charge.
Synonyms: complimentary, free of charge, gratis
Anagrams
• cosurety, courtsey
Source: Wiktionary
Cour"te*sy (kr"t-s), n.; pl. Courtesies (-s. Etym: [OE. cortaisie,
corteisie, courtesie, OF. curteisie, cortoisie, OF. curteisie,
cortoisie, F. courtoisie, fr. curteis, corteis. See Courteous.]
1. 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. Milton.
Pardon me, Messer Claudio, if once more I use the ancient courtesies
of speech. Longfellow.
2. An act of civility or respect; an act of kindness or favor
performed with politeness.
My lord, for your many courtesies I thank you. Shak.
3. 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.
Syn.
– Politiness; urbanity; civility; complaisance; affability;
courteousness; elegance; refinement; courtliness; good breeding. See
Politeness.
Courte"sy (krt"s), n. Etym: [See the preceding word.]
Definition: An act of civility, respect, or reverence, made by women,
consisting of a slight depression or dropping of the body, with
bending of the kness. [Written also curtsy.]
The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony
proceeds as usual. Golgsmith.
Courte"sy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Courtesied (-sd);; p. pr. & vb. n.
Courtesyng.]
Definition: To make a respectful salutation or movement of respect; esp.
(with reference to women), to bow the body slightly, with bending of
the knes.
Courte"sy, v. t.
Definition: To treat with civility. [Obs.]
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition