Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Courtesy?

\Cour"te*sy\ (k?r"t?-s?), n.; pl. {Courtesies} (-s?z). [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\ (k[^u]rt"s[y^]), 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.
\Courte"sy\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Courtesied} (-s[i^]d); 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.
\Courte"sy\, v. t. To treat with civility. [Obs.]