Dictionary

courtly en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈkɔːtli/ (UK)
• /ˈkɔɹtli/ (US)

Etymology

From Middle English courtly, equivalent to court + -ly.

Meanings

1. Befitting of a royal court; reflecting the manners or behaviour of people at court; stately, rich or fine, and so suitable for a royal court.
   • He swept off his hat and made a deep courtly bow.
   • You have too courtly a wit for me; I’ll rest. c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
   • The troubadours sang songs about courtly love.
   • He is a Master of Civility, no less well-bred to his own Sex than courtly to the other. 1715, Homer, “Book III”, in Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 11:
   • Their voices, the gestures of their refined grimy hands, were unbelievably courtly, delicate. Their carriage suggested the majesty of Aztec princes, their faces obscure sculpturings on Yucatecan ruins. 1947, Malcolm Lowry, chapter 1, in Under the Volcano, New York: Reynal & Hitchcock, page 11:
   • […] you must give men of Quality leave to speak in a Language more Gentile and Courtly than the ordinary sort of mankind. 1682, Aphra Behn, “The Roundheads or, The Good Old Cause”, in et al., London: D. Brown, act III, scene 1, page 23:
   • As they abased themselves before him, Mr. Micawber took a seat, and waved his hand in his most courtly manner. 1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, chapter 17, in The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 183:
   • courtly furniture
2. (broadly) Of or relating to courtly love or courtship.
3. Of or relating to a royal court.
   • She tried to remain aloof from courtly intrigues.
   • in houres secure from courtly strife a. 1627, John Beaumont, “Horat. Lib. 2. Sat. 6.”, in Bosworth-Field with a Taste of the Variety of Other Poems, London: Henry Seile, page 40:
   • He had for years held some clerical office appertaining to courtly matters, which had enabled him to live in London, […] 1857, Anthony Trollope, chapter III, in Barchester Towers. […], volume I, London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, →OCLC, page 30:
   • The rich are in general slaves to fear, and submit to courtly power with the trembling duplicity of a spaniel. 1775–1776 (date written), [Thomas Paine], “Thoughts, on the Present State of American Affairs”, in Common Sense; […], Philadelphia, Pa.: […] R[obert] Bell, […], published 10 January 1776, →OCLC, page 40:
4. (obsolete) Overly eager to please or obey.
   • Here FLATT’RY, eldest born of guile, / Weaves with rare skill the silken smile, / The courtly cringe, the supple bow, / The private squeeze, the Levee vow, 1764, C[harles] Churchill, “Book I”, in The Duellist. A Poem. […], London: […] G. Kearsly, […]; W[illiam] Flexney, […]; J. Coote, […]; C. Henderson, […]; J. Gardiner, […]; and J. Almon, […], →OCLC, page 29:
   • That judgment James had notoriously obtained […] by dismissing scrupulous magistrates, and by placing on the bench other magistrates more courtly. 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter VII, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 152:

Forms

Deriveds

courtliness · courtly love · courtlily · uncourtly

Relateds

courtlike · courteous

Synonyms

well-mannered · obsequious · flattering · refined · servile · dignified · genteel

Translations (7)

fi hovi- (of or befitting of a royal court) · pt cortês (of or befitting of a royal court) · pl dworski (of or befitting of a royal court) · sv hövisk (of or befitting of a royal court) · nl hoofs (of or befitting of a royal court) · fr courtois (of or befitting of a royal court) · de höfisch (of or befitting of a royal court)

courtly en · ADV

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈkɔːtli/ (UK)
• /ˈkɔɹtli/ (US)

Etymology

From Middle English courtly, equivalent to court + -ly.

Meanings

1. In the manner of a royal court; in a manner befitting of a royal court.
   • 1766, Elizabeth Griffith, The Double Mistake, London: J. Almon et al., Act I, Scene 3, p. 12, Very courtly and correctly spoken on all sides, my lord;
   • The driver waited courtly by the open doors of the saloon. 1980, Anthony Burgess, chapter 74, in Earthly Powers, New York: Simon & Schuster, page 661:
   • […] where, in the name of wonder, have you learn’d to talk so courtly? 1673, John Dryden, The Assignation, London: Henry Herringman, act II, scene 3, page 17:
   • Then will I deck thee Princely, instruct thee courtly, / And present thee to the Queene as my gift. 1598, Robert Greene, The Scottish Historie of James the Fourth, London, act I, scene 1:

Forms

Synonyms

courtlily