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. -- Politeness; urbanity; civility; complaisance;
affability; courteousness; elegance; refinement; courtliness;
good breeding. See Politeness.
Courte"sy (kûrt"s&ybreve;),
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&ibreve;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.]
