courtesy

Pronunciation: /ˈkɝɾəsi/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a courteous or respectful or considerate act
  2. noun a courteous or respectful or considerate remark
  3. noun a courteous manner

Etymology

From Middle English curteisie, curtesie, from Anglo-Norman curtesie, from Old French curteisie, cortoisie. Equivalent to courteous + -y (abstract noun suffix). By surface analysis, court + -esy.

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
politeness
Narrower (hyponyms)
attention, gallantry

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