courtly

English

Etymology

From Middle English courtly, equivalent to court +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkɔːtli/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈkɔɹtli/

Adjective

courtly (comparative courtlier, superlative courtliest)

1. Befitting of a royal court; reflecting the manners or behaviour of people at court.

   Synonyms: refined, dignified, genteel, well-mannered

   He swept off his hat and made a deep courtly bow.

   The troubadours sang songs about courtly love.

   • c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:

     Corin: You have too courtly a wit for me; I’ll rest.

   • 1682, Aphra Behn, “The Roundheads or, The Good Old Cause”, in et al.‎^[1], London: D. Brown, act III, scene 1, page 23:

     […] you must give men of Quality leave to speak in a Language more Gentile and Courtly than the ordinary sort of mankind.

   • 1715–1720, Homer, [Alexander] Pope, transl., “Book 3”, in The Iliad of Homer, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 11:

     He is a Master of Civility, no less well-bred to his own Sex than courtly to the other.

   • 1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, chapter 17, in The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 183:

     As they abased themselves before him, Mr. Micawber took a seat, and waved his hand in his most courtly manner.

   • 1947, Malcolm Lowry, chapter 1, in Under the Volcano, New York: Reynal & Hitchcock, page 11:

     Their voices, the gestures of their refined grimy hands, were unbelievably courtly, delicate. Their carriage suggested the majesty of Aztec princes, their faces obscure sculpturings on Yucatecan ruins.

2. Of or relating to a royal court.

   She tried to remain aloof from courtly intrigues.

   • a. 1627, John Beaumont, “Horat. Lib. 2. Sat. 6.”, in Bosworth-Field with a Taste of the Variety of Other Poems‎^[2], London: Henry Seile, page 40:

     in houres secure from courtly strife

   • 1776, Thomas Paine, Common Sense‎^[3], Philadelphia, page 40:

     The rich are in general slaves to fear, and submit to courtly power with the trembling duplicity of a spaniel.

   • 1857, Anthony Trollope, chapter 3, in Barchester Towers‎^[4], volume 1, London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, page 30:

     He had for years held some clerical office appertaining to courtly matters, which had enabled him to live in London,

3. (obsolete) Overly eager to please or obey.

   Synonyms: flattering, obsequious, servile

   • 1763, Charles Churchill, “The Duellist”, in et al.‎^[5], London: G. Kearsly, Book 3, p. 29:

     Here FLATT’RY, eldest born of guile,
     Weaves with rare skill the silken smile,
     The courtly cringe, the supple bow,
     The private squeeze, the Levee vow,

   • 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 7, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volumes (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 152:

     That judgment James had notoriously obtained […] by dismissing scrupulous magistrates, and by placing on the bench other magistrates more courtly.

Derived terms

• courtlily
• courtliness
• courtly love

Related terms

• courteous
• courtlike

Translations

Of or befitting of a royal court

• Dutch: hoofs (nl)
• Finnish: hovi-
• French: courtois (fr)
• Polish: dworski (pl)
• Portuguese: cortês (pt) m or f
• Swedish: hövisk (sv)

Adverb

courtly (comparative more courtly, superlative most courtly)

1. In the manner of a royal court; in a manner befitting of a royal court.

   Synonym: courtlily

   • 1598, Robert Greene, The Scottish Historie of James the Fourth‎^[6], London, act I, scene 1:

     Then will I deck thee Princely, instruct thee courtly,
     And present thee to the Queene as my gift.

   • 1673, John Dryden, The Assignation‎^[7], London: Henry Herringman, act II, scene 3, page 17:

     […] where, in the name of wonder, have you learn’d to talk so courtly?

   • 1766, Elizabeth Griffith, The Double Mistake, London: J. Almon et al., Act I, Scene 3, p. 12,^[8]

     Very courtly and correctly spoken on all sides, my lord;

   • 1980, Anthony Burgess, chapter 74, in Earthly Powers‎^[9], New York: Simon & Schuster, page 661:

     The driver waited courtly by the open doors of the saloon.