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courteous

 - 3 dictionary results

cour⋅te⋅ous

  [kur-tee-uhs]
–adjective
having or showing good manners; polite.
Use courteous in a Sentence
Origin:
1225–75; court + -eous; r. ME co(u)rteis < AF; see court, -ese

Related forms:
cour⋅te⋅ous⋅ly, adverb
cour⋅te⋅ous⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
mannerly, gracious, courtly. See civil.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To courteous
cour·te·ous   (kûr'tē-əs)   
adj.  Characterized by gracious consideration toward others. See Synonyms at polite.

[Middle English corteis, courtly, from Old French, from cort, court; see court.]
cour'te·ous·ly adv., cour'te·ous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

courteous 
1275, from O.Fr. curteis "having courtly bearing or manners," from curt "court" + -eis, from L. -ensis. In feudal society, also denoting a man of good education (hence the name Curtis). Medieval courts were associated with good behavior and also beauty; e.g. Ger. hübsch "beautiful," from M.H.G. hübesch "beautiful," orig. "courteous, well-bred," from O.Franconian hofesch, from hof "court."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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