# courtly
## English
### Etymology

From Middle English courtly, equivalent to court +‎ -ly.

### Pronunciation

* (UK) IPA: /ˈkɔːtli/
* Audio (US):(file)
* (US) IPA: /ˈkɔɹtli/
* Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)tli

### Adjective

courtly (comparative courtlier, superlative courtliest)
* Befitting of a royal court; reflecting the manners or behaviour of people at court.
    Synonyms: refined, dignified, genteel, well-mannered
    He swept off his hat and made a deep courtly bow.
    The troubadours sang songs about courtly love.
** c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:Corin: You have too courtly a wit for me; I’ll rest.
** 1682, Aphra Behn, “The Roundheads or, The Good Old Cause”, in et al.‎, London: D. Brown, act III, scene 1, page 23:[…] you must give men of Quality leave to speak in a Language more Gentile and Courtly than the ordinary sort of mankind.
** 1715–1720, Homer, translated by Alexander Pope, “Book 3”, in The Iliad of Homer, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 11:He is a Master of Civility, no less well-bred to his own Sex than courtly to the other.
** 1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, chapter 17, in The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 183:As they abased themselves before him, Mr. Micawber took a seat, and waved his hand in his most courtly manner.
** 1947, Malcolm Lowry, chapter 1, in Under the Volcano, New York: Reynal & Hitchcock, page 11:Their voices, the gestures of their refined grimy hands, were unbelievably courtly, delicate. Their carriage suggested the majesty of Aztec princes, their faces obscure sculpturings on Yucatecan ruins.
* Of or relating to a royal court.
    She tried to remain aloof from courtly intrigues.
** a. 1627, John Beaumont, “Horat. Lib. 2. Sat. 6.”, in Bosworth-Field with a Taste of the Variety of Other Poems‎, London: Henry Seile, page 40:in houres secure from courtly strife
** 1776, Thomas Paine, Common Sense‎, Philadelphia, page 40:The rich are in general slaves to fear, and submit to courtly power with the trembling duplicity of a spaniel.
** 1857, Anthony Trollope, chapter 3, in Barchester Towers‎, volume 1, London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, page 30:He had for years held some clerical office appertaining to courtly matters, which had enabled him to live in London,
* (obsolete) Overly eager to please or obey.
    Synonyms: flattering, obsequious, servile
** 1763, Charles Churchill, “The Duellist”, in et al.‎, London: G. Kearsly, Book 3, p. 29:Here FLATT’RY, eldest born of guile, Weaves with rare skill the silken smile, The courtly cringe, the supple bow, The private squeeze, the Levee vow,
** 1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter VII, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 152:That judgment James had notoriously obtained […] by dismissing scrupulous magistrates, and by placing on the bench other magistrates more courtly.

#### Derived terms

* courtlily
* courtliness
* courtly love
* uncourtly

#### Related terms

* courteous
* courtlike

#### Translations
### Adverb

courtly (comparative more courtly, superlative most courtly)
* In the manner of a royal court; in a manner befitting of a royal court.
    Synonym: courtlily
** 1598, Robert Greene, The Scottish Historie of James the Fourth‎, London, act I, scene 1:Then will I deck thee Princely, instruct thee courtly, And present thee to the Queene as my gift.
** 1673, John Dryden, The Assignation‎, London: Henry Herringman, act II, scene 3, page 17:[…] where, in the name of wonder, have you learn’d to talk so courtly?
** 1766, Elizabeth Griffith, The Double Mistake, London: J. Almon et al., Act I, Scene 3, p. 12,
    Very courtly and correctly spoken on all sides, my lord;
** 1980, Anthony Burgess, chapter 74, in Earthly Powers‎, New York: Simon & Schuster, page 661:The driver waited courtly by the open doors of the saloon.