courtesy

¹cour·te·sy

noun \ˈkər-tə-sē, British also ˈkȯr-\

plural cour·te·sies

Definition of COURTESY

1

a : behavior marked by polished manners or respect for others : courteous behavior b : a courteous and respectful act or expression

2

a : general allowance despite facts : indulgence <hills called mountains by courtesy only> b : consideration, cooperation, and generosity in providing something (as a gift or privilege); also : agency, means —used chiefly in the phrases through the courtesy of or by courtesy of or sometimes simply courtesy of

Examples of COURTESY

1. They treated us with courtesy and kindness.
2. She did it as a courtesy, not because she had to.
3. Everyone knows each other here, so we won't bother with the usual courtesies.
4. They shook hands and exchanged courtesies before beginning their discussion.
5. Civilized life cannot be sustained without hypocrisy. A certain moral code, a degree of courtesy and decorum, are necessary to keep our instincts under a modicum of control. —Ian Buruma, New York Review of Books, 2 Nov. 2006
6. Cara, who, courtesy of the cat, had a run in her leggings, picked up the phone in a panic … —Helen Schulman, Wigwag, November 1990
7. “Coffee, sir?” asked a sailor. I nodded, still chilled. The courtesy, the ordinariness of these men was in the context somehow curious. —Fred Reed, Harper's, September 1988
8. I tried to persuade him that all that Hamish Hamilton had attempted to do was to extend the kind of courtesies which cultural institutions thought to be his due. —Isaiah Berlin, New York Times Book Review, 12 Apr. 1987

Origin of COURTESY

Middle English corteisie, from Anglo-French curteisie, from curteis

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to COURTESY

Synonyms: benevolence, boon, favor, grace, indulgence, kindness, mercy, service, turn

Antonyms: discourteousness, discourtesy, impoliteness, incivility, rudeness, surliness, ungraciousness

Related Words: dispensation, waiver; advantage, benefit, blessing, godsend, manna; liberty, license (or licence), privilege

Near Antonyms: hindrance, hurdle, impediment, interference, obstacle

see all synonyms and antonyms

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