Courtesy definition | Dictionary.com

cour⋅te⋅sy

[kur-tuh-see or, for 5, kurt-see]

noun, plural -sies, adjective

–noun

1.	excellence of manners or social conduct; polite behavior.

2.	a courteous, respectful, or considerate act or expression.

3.	indulgence, consent, or acquiescence: a “colonel” by courtesy rather than by right.

4.	favor, help, or generosity: The costumes for the play were by courtesy of the local department store.

a curtsy.

–adjective

6.	done or performed as a matter of courtesy or protocol: a courtesy call on the mayor.

7.	offered or provided free by courtesy of the management: While waiting to board the airplane, we were provided with courtesy coffee.

Origin:
1175–1225; ME curteisie < AF, OF; see courteous, -y ³

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : Courtesy

Spanish:

cortesía,

German:

die Höflichkeit,

Japanese:

礼儀正しさ

View 30 other languages »

cour·te·sy (kûr'tĭ-sē) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. cour·te·sies

1. Polite behavior.
2. A polite gesture or remark.
3. Consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence: They call this pond a lake by courtesy only.
4. Willingness or generosity in providing something needed: free advertising through the courtesy of the local newspaper.
1. Consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence: They call this pond a lake by courtesy only.
2. Willingness or generosity in providing something needed: free advertising through the courtesy of the local newspaper.

adj.

Given or done as a polite gesture: paid a courtesy visit to the new neighbors.
Free of charge: courtesy tickets for the reporters.

[Middle English courtesie, from Old French, from corteis, courtly; see courteous.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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courtesy

c.1225, from O.Fr. curtesie, from curteis "courteous," from curt "court" (see court). A specialized sense of curtesie is the source of Eng. curtsy.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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courtesy
noun
1.	a courteous or respectful or considerate act
2.	a courteous or respectful or considerate remark
3.	a courteous manner [ant: discourtesy]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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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.

Courtesy

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.

Courtesy

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.

Courtesy

Courte"sy\, v. t. To treat with civility. [Obs.]

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