courtly
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courtly — [kôrt′lē] adj. courtlier, courtliest [ME] 1. suitable for a king s court; dignified, polite, elegant, etc. [courtly manners] 2. flattering, esp. in an obsequious way adv. courtlier, courtliest in a courtly manner courtliness n … English World dictionary
Courtly — Court ly ( l?), a. [From {Court}.] 1. Relating or belonging to a court. [1913 Webster] 2. Elegant; polite; courtlike; flattering. [1913 Webster] In courtly company or at my beads. Shak. [1913 Webster] 3. Disposed to favor the great; favoring the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Courtly — Court ly, adv. In the manner of courts; politely; gracefully; elegantly. [1913 Webster] They can produce nothing so courtly writ. Dryden [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
courtly — mid 15c., having manners befitting a court, from COURT (Cf. court) + LY (Cf. ly) (1). Meaning pertaining to the court is from late 15c. Courtly love highly conventionalized medieval chivalric love (amour courtois) is attested from 1896 … Etymology dictionary
courtly — courteous, gallant, chivalrous, polite, *civil Analogous words: ceremonious, formal, conventional, *ceremonial: elegant, dignified, graceful (see corresponding nouns at ELEGANCE): finished, *consummate Antonyms: churlish Contrasted words:… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
courtly — [adj] refined manner adulatory, affable, aristocratic, august, ceremonious, chivalrous, civil, civilized, complimentary, conventional, cultured, decorous, dignified, elegant, flattering, formal, gallant, gracious, high bred, imposing, lofty,… … New thesaurus
courtly — ► ADJECTIVE (courtlier, courtliest) ▪ very dignified and polite. DERIVATIVES courtliness noun … English terms dictionary
courtly — [[t]kɔ͟ː(r)tli[/t]] ADJ GRADED You use courtly to describe someone whose behaviour is very polite, often in a rather old fashioned way. [LITERARY] Brian was courtly and reserved... The waiter made a courtly bow. Syn: gracious … English dictionary
courtly — courtliness, n. /kawrt lee, kohrt /, adj., courtlier, courtliest, adv. adj. 1. polite, refined, or elegant: courtly manners. 2. flattering; obsequious. 3. noting, pertaining to, or suitable for the court of a sovereign. adv. 4. in a courtly… … Universalium
courtly — UK [ˈkɔː(r)tlɪ] / US [ˈkɔrtlɪ] adjective Word forms courtly : adjective courtly comparative courtlier superlative courtliest formal very polite in a formal way … English dictionary
