Part 612

Court"bred` (-br?d`), a. Bred, or educated, at court; polished; courtly.

Court"-craft` (k?rt"kr?ft`), n. The artifices, intrigues, and plottings, at courts.

Court"-cup`board (-k?b`b?rd), n. A movable sideboard or buffet, on which plate and other articles of luxury were displayed on special ocasions. [Obs.]

A way with the joint stools, remove the court- cupboard, look to the plate. Shak.

Courtelle n. a wool-like fabric. [WordNet 1.5]

Cour"te*ous (k?r"t?-?s; 277), a. [OE. cortais, corteis, cortois, rarely corteous, OF. corties, corteis, F. courtois. See Court.] Of courtlike manners; pertaining to, or expressive of, courtesy; characterized by courtesy; civil; obliging; well bred; polite; affable; complaisant.

A patient and courteous bearing. Prescott.

His behavior toward his people is grave and courteous. Fuller.

Cour"te*ous*ly, adv. In a courteous manner.

Cour"te*ous*ness, n. The quality of being courteous; politeness; courtesy.

Cour"te*py (k??r"t?-p?), n. [D. kort short + pije a coarse cloth.] A short coat of coarse cloth. [Obs.]

Full threadbare was his overeste courtepy. Chaucer.

Court"er (k?rt"?r), n. One who courts; one who plays the lover, or who solicits in marriage; one who flatters and cajoles. Sherwood.

Cour"te*san (k?r"t?-z?n; 277), n. [F. courtisane, fr. courtisan courtier, It. cortigiano; or directly fr. It. cortigiana, or Sp. cortesana. See Court.] A woman who prostitutes herself for hire; a prostitute; a harlot.

Lasciviously decked like a courtesan. Sir H. Wotton.

Cour"te*san*ship, n. Harlotry.

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. -- Politeness; urbanity; civility; complaisance; affability; courteousness; elegance; refinement; courtliness; good breeding. See Politeness.

Courte"sy (kűrt"s&ybreve;), 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.

Courte"sy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Courtesied (-s&ibreve;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.

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