First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1courtesy
noun cour·te·sy \ˈkər-tə-sē, British also ˈkȯr-\
: polite behavior that shows respect for other people
: something that you do because it is polite, kind, etc.
: something that you say to be polite especially when you meet someone
plural cour·te·sies
Full Definition of COURTESY
1
2
a : general allowance despite facts : indulgence <hills called mountains by courtesy only> b : consideration, cooperation, and generosity in providing something (as a gift or privilege); also : agency, means —used chiefly in the phrases through the courtesy of or by courtesy of or sometimes simply courtesy of
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Examples of COURTESY
- Civilized life cannot be sustained without hypocrisy. A certain moral code, a degree of courtesy and decorum, are necessary to keep our instincts under a modicum of control. —Ian Buruma, New York Review of Books, 2 Nov. 2006
- Cara, who, courtesy of the cat, had a run in her leggings, picked up the phone in a panic … —Helen Schulman, Wigwag, November 1990
- “Coffee, sir?” asked a sailor. I nodded, still chilled. The courtesy, the ordinariness of these men was in the context somehow curious. —Fred Reed, Harper's, September 1988
- I tried to persuade him that all that Hamish Hamilton had attempted to do was to extend the kind of courtesies which cultural institutions thought to be his due. —Isaiah Berlin, New York Times Book Review, 12 Apr. 1987
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Origin of COURTESY
Middle English corteisie, from Anglo-French curteisie, from curteis
Related to COURTESY
- Synonyms
- benevolence, boon, favor, grace, indulgence, kindness, mercy, service, turn
- Antonyms
- discourteousness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, surliness, ungraciousness
2courtesy
adjective cour·te·sy \ˈkər-tə-sē, British also ˈkȯr-\
: done in order to be polite
: provided for free
Full Definition of COURTESY
: granted, provided, or performed as a courtesy or by way of courtesy (see 1courtesy) <made a courtesy call on the ambassador>
See courtesy defined for English-language learners
Examples of COURTESY
- As the heir to an earldom, Stephen was obliged to pay a courtesy call on the British ambassador … —Ken Follett, The Man from St. Petersburg, 1982
Origin of COURTESY
(see 1courtesy)
First Known Use: 1613
COURTESIES Defined for Kids
courtesy
noun cour·te·sy \ˈkər-tə-sē\
plural cour·te·sies
Definition of COURTESY for Kids
1
: the quality or state of being respectful and considerate of others
2
: a polite or generous act or expression <Hot meals were served through the courtesy of volunteers.>
3
: something that is a favor and not a right <Transportation is provided as a courtesy of the hotel.>
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