Dictionary

courtesy en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈkɜːtəsi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈkɝɾəsi/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English curteisie, curtesie, from Anglo-Norman curtesie, from Old French curteisie, cortoisie. Equivalent to courteous + -y (abstract noun suffix). By surface analysis, court + -esy.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Given or done as a polite gesture.
   • We paid a courtesy visit to the new neighbors.
2. (not-comparable) Supplied free of charge.
   • The event planners offered courtesy tickets for the reporters.

Synonyms

gratis · complimentary · free of charge

Translations (11)

pt grátis (free of charge) · nl beleefdheids- (given or done as a polite gesture) · it di cortesia (given or done as a polite gesture) · sv hövlighets- (given or done as a polite gesture) · es de cortesía (free of charge) · es de cortesía (given or done as a polite gesture) · ru беспла́тный (free of charge) · fi kohteliaisuus- (given or done as a polite gesture) · nl hoffelijkheid (given or done as a polite gesture) · pt de cortesia (given or done as a polite gesture) · fi ilmainen (free of charge)

courtesy en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈkɜːtəsi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈkɝɾəsi/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English curteisie, curtesie, from Anglo-Norman curtesie, from Old French curteisie, cortoisie. Equivalent to courteous + -y (abstract noun suffix). By surface analysis, court + -esy.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) Polite behavior.
   • Please extend them the courtesy of your presence.
   • He was always known for his grace, kindness, and courtesy to people of every rank.
   • Rabbit doesn't want to tell him anything. The more he tells, the more he loses. He's safe inside his own skin, he doesn't want to come out. This guy's whole game is to get him out into the open where he can be manipulated. But the fierce convention of courtesy pries open Rabbit's lips. 1960, John Updike, 'Rabbit, Run', page 108:
2. (countable) A polite gesture or remark, especially as opposed to an obligation or standard practice.
   • My lord, for your many courtesies I thank you. 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
   • I offered them a ride simply as a courtesy.
3. (uncountable) Consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence.
   • They call this pond a lake by courtesy only.
4. (uncountable) Willingness or generosity in providing something needed.
   • They received free advertising through the courtesy of the local newspaper.
   • [on a label, caption, etc.] Courtesy the Smith Foundation: [e.g.] use of this image was allowed through the courtesy of the Smith Foundation.
5. (countable, dated, uncountable) A curtsey.
   • The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony proceeds as usual. 1760, Oliver Goldsmith, The Citizen of the World:
   • [I]t was her favorite amusement to array herself in the faded brocades, and parade up and down before the long mirror, making stately courtesies, and sweeping her train about, with a rustle which delighted her ears. 1868–1869, Louisa M[ay] Alcott, “Amy’s Will”, in Little Women: […], (please specify |part=1 or 2), Boston, Mass.: Roberts Brothers, →OCLC, page 284:
6. (countable, uncountable) The life interest that the surviving husband has in the real or heritable estate of his wife.

Forms

Deriveds

senatorial courtesy · courtesy flag · curtsey · strain courtesy · courtesy clerk · courtesy light · courtesy name · courtesy phone · courtesy of · courtesy of the trade · courtesy telephone · extend the courtesy · courtesy title · overcourtesy · uncourtesy · discourtesy · courtesy copy · kill-courtesy · courtesy card · courtesy call · courtesy flush · courtesy turn · common courtesy · courtesy book · courtesy lamp

Translations (71)

ka ზრდილობიანობა (polite behavior) · da høflighed (polite behavior) · el αβρότητα (polite gesture or remark) · cmn 禮儀 /礼仪 (polite gesture or remark) · pt cortesia (polite behavior) · el αβροφροσύνη (polite behavior) · hi विनय (polite behavior) · de Nachsicht (consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence) · de Entgegenkommen (willingness or generosity in providing something needed) · bg снизхожде́ние (consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence) · bg ве́жливост (polite behavior) · hy բարեկրթություն (polite behavior) · gv cooyrtoilid (polite behavior) · es cortesía (polite behavior) · ar أَدَب (polite behavior) · hi सुशीलता (polite behavior) · pl kurtuazja (polite behavior) · ru учти́вость (polite behavior) · fi kohteliaisuus (polite gesture or remark) · pt cortesia (willingness or generosity in providing something needed) · sv hövlighet (polite behavior) · hy քաղաքավարություն (polite behavior) · mi atawhaitanga (willingness or generosity in providing something needed) · fi kohteliaisuus (polite behavior) · sv hövlighet (consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence) · kk көргенділік (polite behavior) · de Großzügigkeit (willingness or generosity in providing something needed) · it cortesia (polite behavior) · ca cortesia (polite behavior) · de Höflichkeit (polite behavior) · ja 愛想 (polite behavior) · ru обходи́тельность (polite behavior) · fr indulgence (consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence) · bg учти́вост (polite behavior) · he אדיבות (polite behavior) · vi sự nhã nhặn (polite behavior) · it cortesia (consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence) · gd modh (polite behavior) · fr courtoisie (polite behavior) · enm curteisie (polite gesture or remark) · scn curtisia (polite behavior) · el αβρότητα (polite behavior) · he אדיבות (willingness or generosity in providing something needed) · de Höflichkeit (polite gesture or remark) · cmn 禮節 /礼节 (polite behavior) · gl cortesía (polite behavior) · fi anteliaisuus (willingness or generosity in providing something needed) · fr politesse (polite gesture or remark) · enm curteisie (polite behavior) · vi sự lịch sự (polite behavior) · cmn 禮貌 /礼貌 (polite behavior) · pt cortesia (polite gesture or remark) · nl hoffelijkheid (polite behavior) · ru снисхожде́ние (consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence) · de Gefälligkeit (willingness or generosity in providing something needed) · my လောကဝတ် (polite behavior) · pt indulgência (consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence) · hu udvariasság (polite behavior) · ru ве́жливость (polite gesture or remark) · af beleefdheid (polite behavior) · it cortesia (polite gesture or remark) · sv hövlighet (polite gesture or remark) · fi kohteliaisuus (consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence) · ru ве́жливость (polite behavior) · mi atawhaitanga (polite behavior) · ar مَجَامَلَة (polite behavior) · mn найрсаг зан (polite behavior) · ja 礼儀 (polite behavior) · la cōmitās (polite behavior) · de Kulanz (consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence) · ko 예의 (polite behavior)

courtesy en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈkɜːtəsi/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈkɝɾəsi/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English curteisie, curtesie, from Anglo-Norman curtesie, from Old French curteisie, cortoisie. Equivalent to courteous + -y (abstract noun suffix). By surface analysis, court + -esy.

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of curtsey.
   alt of curtsey

Forms