courtesy

²cour·te·sy

adj \ˈkər-tə-sē, British also ˈkȯr-\

Definition of COURTESY

: granted, provided, or performed as a courtesy or by way of courtesy (see ¹courtesy) <made a courtesy call on the ambassador>

Examples of COURTESY

1. Important visitors to the conference were provided with courtesy cars.
2. As the heir to an earldom, Stephen was obliged to pay a courtesy call on the British ambassador … —Ken Follett, The Man from St. Petersburg, 1982

Origin of COURTESY

(see ¹courtesy)

First Known Use: 1613