What does courtesy mean?

Definitions for courtesy
ˈkɜr tə si or, for 5 , ˈkɜrt sicour·tesy

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word courtesy.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. courtesynoun

    a courteous or respectful or considerate act

  2. courtesynoun

    a courteous or respectful or considerate remark

  3. courtesy, good mannersnoun

    a courteous manner

Wiktionary

  1. courtesynoun

    Polite behavior.

    Please extend them the courtesy of your presence.

  2. courtesynoun

    A polite gesture or remark.

    I offered them a ride simply as a courtesy.

  3. courtesynoun

    Consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence.

    They call this pond a lake by courtesy only.

  4. courtesynoun

    Willingness or generosity in providing something needed.

    They received free advertising through the courtesy of the local newspaper.

  5. courtesyadjective

    Given or done as a polite gesture.

    We paid a courtesy visit to the new neighbors.

  6. courtesyadjective

    Free of charge.

    The event planners offered courtesy tickets for the reporters.

  7. Etymology: From curtesie, from curtesie, from curteis, from cortois, from cortensis. \

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Courtesynoun

    Etymology: courtoisie, Fr. cortesia, Italian.

    Sir, you are very welcome to our house; It must appear in other ways than words,
    Therefore I scant this breathing courtesy. William Shakespeare, Merch. of Ven.

    Who have seen his estate, his hospitality, his courtesy to strangers. Henry Peacham.

    He, who was compounded of all the elements of affability and courtesy towards all kind of people, brought himself to a habit of neglect, and even of rudeness, towards the queen. Edward Hyde.

    So gentle of condition was he known,
    That through the court his courtesy was blown. John Dryden, Fab.

    Fair sir, you spit on me last Wednesday;
    You spurn’d me such a day; another time
    You call’d me dog; and for these courtesies,
    I’ll lend you thus much money. William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice.

    Repose you there, while I to the hard house
    Return, and force their scanted courtesy. William Shakespeare, K. Lear.

    When I was last at Exeter,
    The mayor in courtesy shew’d me the castle. William Shakespeare, R. III.

    Sound all the lofty instruments of war,
    And by that musick let us all embrace;
    For heav’n to earth some of us never shall
    A second time do such a courtesy. William Shakespeare, Henry IV.

    Other states, assuredly, cannot be justly accused for not staying for the first blow; or for not accepting Polyphemus’s courtesy, to be the last that shall be eaten up. Francis Bacon.

    Some country girl, scarce to a court’sy bred,
    Would I much rather than Cornelia wed;
    If, supercilious, haughty, proud and vain,
    She brought her father’s triumphs in her train. John Dryden, Juven.

    The poor creature was as full of courtesies as if I had been her godmother: the truth on’t is, I endeavoured to make her look something Christian-like. William Congreve, Old Batchelor.

  2. To Courtesyverb

    Etymology: from the noun.

    Toby approaches, and court’sies there to me. William Shakespeare.

    The petty traffickers,
    That court’sy to them, do them reverence. William Shakespeare.

    If I should meet her in my way,
    We hardly court’sy to each other. Matthew Prior.

Wikipedia

  1. Courtesy

    Courtesy (from the word courteis, from the 12th century) is gentle politeness and courtly manners. In the Middle Ages in Europe, the behaviour expected of the nobility was compiled in courtesy books.

ChatGPT

  1. courtesy

    Courtesy is a polite and considerate behavior displayed towards others, often involving showing respect, kindness, and good manners. It involves being aware of and attending to the needs and feelings of others, while actively promoting a pleasant and harmonious environment in social interactions.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Courtesynoun

    politeness; civility; urbanity; courtliness

  2. Courtesynoun

    an act of civility or respect; an act of kindness or favor performed with politeness

  3. Courtesynoun

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

  4. Courtesynoun

    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

  5. Courtesyverb

    to make a respectful salutation or movement of respect; esp. (with reference to women), to bow the body slightly, with bending of the knes

  6. Courtesyverb

    to treat with civility

  7. Etymology: [See the preceding word.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Courtesy

    kort′e-si, or kurt′e-si, n. courtliness: elegance of manner: an act of civility or respect: a curtsy: (law) the life interest which the surviving husband has in the real or heritable estate of his wife.—v.i. to make a curtsy.—pr.p. court′esying; pa.p. court′esied.—n.pl. Court′esy-tī′tles, titles really invalid, but allowed by the usage of society—as to children of peers. [O. Fr. courtoisie.]

The Roycroft Dictionary

  1. courtesy

    1. The court clothes of any two-legged predatory animal. 2. The oil that makes a juggernaut noiseless.

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'courtesy' in Nouns Frequency: #2833

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce courtesy?

How to say courtesy in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of courtesy in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of courtesy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of courtesy in a Sentence

  1. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:

    There is a courtesy of the heart; it is allied to love. From its springs the purest courtesy in the outward behavior.

  2. Denis Pereira Gray:

    Patients have long known that it matters which doctor they see and how well they can communicate with them, until now, arranging for patients to see the doctor of their choice has been considered a matter of convenience or courtesy ; now, it is clear it is about the quality of medical practice and is literally' a matter of life and death.'.

  3. Quil Lance:

    Charleston County Mayor Joseph Riley said. What motivated the gunman is not yet clear, but his monstrous act took the lives of nine people who prayed, worked and struggled on behalf of their community and their church. Related ImageExpand / ContractSharonda Coleman-Singleton, was a speech therapist and girls ’ track and field team at Goose Creek High School. ( Courtesy : Charleston Post and Courier) Cynthia Hurd, 54, was a branch manger in the Charleston County Public Library -RRB- system, where Cynthia Hurd was so revered from a career spanning 31 years that all city branches were closed in Cynthia Hurd honor Thursday. Cynthia Hurd was a tireless servant of the community who spent Cynthia Hurd life helping residents, making sure they had every opportunity for an education and personal growth, the library system said in a statement. Cynthia Hurd loss is incomprehensible, and we ask for prayers for Cynthia Hurd family, her co-workers, her church and this entire community as we come together to face this tragic loss. Related ImageExpand / ContractCynthia Hurd was a librarian who worshiped at the venerable church. ( Charleston County Public Library) Quil Lance had retired from Gaillard Center, a performance hall in Charleston County, and been serving as a custodian at the church where Quil Lance worshiped. As big a void as Quil Lance death leaves there, it left an even deeper one in the family Quil Lance held together with love and strength, Quil Lance grandson, Quil Lance, told the Charleston Post and Courier I ’m lost, I ’m lost, granny was the heart of the family. Related ImageExpand / ContractClementa Pinckney was a beloved pastor and respected lawmaker before he was gunned down in his own church Wednesday night. ( Grace Beahm/The Charleston Post and Courier via AP).

  4. Barack Obama:

    The whole notion was that if we showed courtesy or opened up dialogue with governments that had previously been hostile to us, that that somehow would be a sign of weakness, the American people didn't buy it. And there's a good reason the American people didn't buy it -- because it doesn't make sense.

  5. Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald:

    Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said at a news conference in October. FLASHBACK : James Closs FAMILY, COMMUNITY HOLD OUT HOPE 2 MONTHS AFTER TEENS DISAPPEARANCE Emergencylogsreleased days laterappeared to indicate that the cell phone of James Closs mother, 46-year-old Denise Closs, placed the call and that James Closs, 56-year-old James Closs, answered the door and was the first to be fatally shot. No one talked on that call and we dont know who made it. We heard voices but we cant make out what was said, we do believe James Closs was home at the time the call was made. Detectives pursued thousands of tips, watched dozens of surveillance videos and conducted numerous searches in the effort to find the girl. James Closs, 13, vanished on Oct. 15 after her parents were fatally shot at their home in Barron County, located about 80 miles northeast of Minneapolis. ( Courtesy of Barron County Sheriff's Department via AP, File) Roughly two weeks after she disappeared, a man identified as Kyle Jaenke-Annis, 32, was arrested for allegedly burglarizing the James Closs home. He was reportedly found with two girls tank tops, underwear, and a dress. However, Barron County officials cleared him of any involvement in the teens disappearance. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The sheriff previously said his office was receiving around 25 tips per day regarding James Closs disappearance. Hed been confident that James Closs was alive somewhere.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

courtesy#1#5765#10000

Translations for courtesy

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"courtesy." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/courtesy>.

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