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courtly Definition

courtly (kôrt)

adjective -·lier, -·li·est

  1. suitable for a king's court; dignified, polite, elegant, etc. courtly manners
  2. flattering, esp. in an obsequious way

Etymology: ME

adverb -·lier, -·li·est

in a courtly manner

courtly Related Forms
court·li·ness noun
courtly Synonyms

courtly

modif.

elegant, dignified, refined, gallant; see cultured, polite 1.

courtly Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • mannershe: It's an agent he's a great courtly mannershe 's got th in an.
  • love: In courtly love, marriage had no important part.
  • poetry: The secular texts, apart from occasional local orthographical variants, are typical of courtly lyric poetry in 14th century France.
  • dance: The workshop began with an introduction to the complex etiquette of courtly dance.
  • manner: In it he invented a new persona for the devil, endowing him with courtly manners.
  • circle: In courtly circles at least, there were also rules on the rationing of food to messes.

Modifying Another Word

  • typically: In this way she at first seems to back up a typically courtly idea of " love at first sight.
  • even: In print he sounded fierce; in life he was gentle, even courtly.
courtly Quotes

   Be courtly ay in clething and costlyarrayit, That hurtis yow nought worth a hen; yowr husband pays for all.

—Dumas, Alexandre, pe'  re