courtesy
English
Etymology
From Middle English curtesie, from Anglo-Norman curtesie, from Old French curteisie, cortoisie. [1][2]
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkɜːtəsi/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈkɝtəsi/
- Hyphenation: cour‧te‧sy
Audio (US) (file)
Noun
courtesy (countable and uncountable, plural courtesies)
- (uncountable) Polite behavior.
- Please extend them the courtesy of your presence.
- (countable) A polite gesture or remark.
- I offered them a ride simply as a courtesy.
- Shakespeare
- My lord, for your many courtesies I thank you.
- (uncountable) Consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence.
- They call this pond a lake by courtesy only.
- (uncountable) Willingness or generosity in providing something needed.
- They received free advertising through the courtesy of the local newspaper.
- A curtsey.
- Goldsmith
- The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony proceeds as usual.
- Goldsmith
- (law) The life interest that the surviving husband has in the real or heritable estate of his wife.
Derived terms
Translations
polite behavior
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polite gesture or remark
consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence
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willingness or generosity in providing something needed
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Derived terms
Verb
courtesy (third-person singular simple present courtesies, present participle courtesying, simple past and past participle courtesied)
- Alternative form of curtsey
- Samuel Richardson
- Well, but Polly attended, as I said; and there were strange simperings, and bowing, and courtesying, between them; the honest gentleman seeming not to know how to let his mistress wait upon him […]
- Samuel Richardson
Adjective
courtesy (not comparable) (used only before the noun)
- Given or done as a polite gesture.
- We paid a courtesy visit to the new neighbors.
- Supplied free of charge.
- Synonyms: complimentary, free of charge, gratis
- The event planners offered courtesy tickets for the reporters.
Translations
given or done as a polite gesture
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