courtesy

[ kur-tuh-see or for 5, kurt-see ]
/ ˈkɜr tə si or for 5, ˈkɜrt si /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR courtesy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural cour·te·sies.

adjective

done or performed as a matter of courtesy or protocol: a courtesy call on the mayor.
offered or provided free by courtesy of the management: While waiting to board the airplane, we were provided with courtesy coffee.

Origin of courtesy

1175–1225; Middle English curteisie < Anglo-French, Old French; see courteous, -y3

OTHER WORDS FROM courtesy

o·ver·cour·te·sy, noun un·cour·te·sy, noun, plural un·cour·te·sies.

Words nearby courtesy

court-leet, court-martial, courtelle, courteous, courtesan, courtesy, courtesy car, courtesy card, courtesy light, courtesy title, courthouse

Words related to courtesy

sympathy, civility, generosity, reverence, deference, kindness, compassion, chivalry, amiability, address, culture, respect, indulgence, thoughtfulness, ceremony, gentleness, familiarity, solicitude, elegance, favor

Example sentences from the Web for courtesy

British Dictionary definitions for courtesy

courtesy
/ (ˈkɜːtɪsɪ) /

noun plural -sies

politeness; good manners
a courteous gesture or remark
favour or consent (esp in the phrase by courtesy of)
common consent as opposed to right (esp in the phrase by courtesy) See also courtesy title
(ˈkɜːtsɪ) an archaic spelling of curtsy

Word Origin for courtesy

C13 curteisie, from Old French, from corteis courteous