courtlyadjective
uk/ˈkɔːt.li/us/ˈkɔːrt.li/polite and formal in behaviour
relating to a royal court (= the official home of a king or queen):
Quiet courtly life did not satisfy the King.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Polite and respectful
- chivalrous
- chivalry
- civil
- civility
- civilized
- civilly
- couth
- deferential
- euphemism
- gallant
- gentlemanly
- grace
- gracious
- polite
- politely
- politically correct
- refined
- respect
- respectful
- respectfully
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courtliness
noun [ U ] uk/ˈkɔːt.li.nəs/us/ˈkɔːrt.li.nəs/
Examples from literature
- So I declined wine upon general principles when it was offered by the courtly host.
- There was a courtly, old-world sort of look about him.
- They were all looking at me now, and it seemed as though we had passed from courtly phrases, such as fall readily but with little import from a man's lips, and had come to a graver matter.
- With a courtly bow I left them.
- Yet Essex could be generous and knightly with his friends, kind and courtly, at least to his English dependents.