courtesy

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkɜːtəsi/ (UK); /ˈkɝɾəsi/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English curteisie, corteisie, borrowed from Old French curteisie (“courtliness, courteousness, generosity”) (modern courtoisie),^[2][3][4] from curteis, courteous, and -ie, -y.^[2][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Courtly elegance and politeness, chivalrous conduct: about 1200 in Etymonline, before 1225 in the OED.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

A courteous act is also from about 1200.^[2] Good will or kindness, and a reward or gift, are from about 1300,^[2] and courteous disposition, nobleness, generosity from 1297.^[6] By courtesy, by favour or common good will, is from 1587,^[6] and a courtesy title, with no legal validity, from 1829 (1844 in the OED).^[2][6] A courtesy call is by 1898.^[2] A specialized sense of the word became curtsy.^[2][7] The verb, to make a curtsy, is from the late 16th century.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 1200 – courtly politeness.^[2]
• 1297 – generosity.^[6]
• 1587 – by courtesy.^[6]
• 1829 – courtesy title.^[2]
• 1898 – courtesy call.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. Polite behaviour; good manners.
2. A polite gesture or remark.
3. Favour or consent, especially in by courtesy of.

Adjective

1. Done or given as a polite gesture, or free of charge: a courtesy bus.

Word family

• discourtesy
• overcourtesy
• uncourtesy
• curtsey
• courtesy card
• senatorial courtesy
• courtesy light
• courtesy title

Related words

• courteous
• curtsy
• court
• courtier

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press