courtly

[ kawrt-lee, kohrt- ]

/ ˈkɔrt li, ˈkoʊrt- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR courtly ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, court·li·er, court·li·est.

polite, refined, or elegant: courtly manners.

flattering; obsequious.

noting, pertaining to, or suitable for the court of a sovereign.

adverb

in a courtly manner; politely or flatteringly.

Origin of courtly

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at court, -ly

OTHER WORDS FROM courtly

court·li·ness, noun

Words nearby courtly

courtesy light, courtesy title, courthouse, courtier, courting mirror, courtly, courtly love, courtrai, courtroom, courtship, courtship display

Example sentences from the Web for courtly

Who was the most erotic poet of the late Renaissance and early Baroque, when the quatrain reached its courtly zenith?

Sor Juana: Mexico’s Most Erotic Poet and Its Most Dangerous Nun |Katie Baker |November 8, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Blumenthal, a courtly gentleman of 68 in a perfectly crisp blue shirt, gets laughs by trotting out his rudimentary Spanish.

Dan Malloy Is Progressives’ Dream Governor. So Why Isn’t He Winning? |David Freedlander |October 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The driver, Amadou Diallo, was a courtly African immigrant who made it a point to wear a tie as he worked.

The Mad Shooter of Paris Is a ‘Natural Born Killer’ |Christopher Dickey |November 21, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
From a long-awaited sequel to a courtly farce, to a memoir of a childhood spent in the ruins of American aristocracy.

This Week’s Hot Reads: April 15, 2013 |Nicholas Mancusi |April 15, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

“Tell me about the amendment, Angus,” the courtly Hathaway said.

Angus King: New Senator Aims to Build Bridges Amid Washington Dysfunction |Lloyd Grove |January 31, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
The banquet in the air on the present occasion could only be done justice to by the courtly painters of the reign of Louis XV.

Lothair |Benjamin Disraeli
And to this prowess in courtly exercises he joined a love of art and learning which especially commended him to the Moro.

Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Milan, 1475-1497 |Julia Mary Cartwright
The cruel sport, at one time considered a courtly pastime in England, is still a favourite in Cuba.

Cuba Past and Present |Richard Davey
Gracious and commanding, he made his friends welcome with a courtly ease which no brooding years of solitude could rust.

Nicanor - Teller of Tales |C. Bryson Taylor
He is slender, a bit under middle stature and has a handsome face and courtly manners.

In the Days of Poor Richard |Irving Bacheller

British Dictionary definitions for courtly

courtly

/ (ˈkɔːtlɪ) /

adjective -lier or -liest

of or suitable for a royal court

refined in manner

ingratiating

Derived forms of courtly

courtliness, noun

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

courtly

adjective, court·li·er, court·li·est.

adverb

Origin of courtly

OTHER WORDS FROM courtly

Words nearby courtly

Example sentences from the Web for courtly

British Dictionary definitions for courtly

adjective -lier or -liest

Derived forms of courtly

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

courtly

adjective, court·li·er, court·li·est.

adverb

Origin of courtly

OTHER WORDS FROM courtly

Words nearby courtly

Words related to courtly

Example sentences from the Web for courtly

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for courtly

adjective -lier or -liest

Derived forms of courtly

British Dictionary definitions for courtly