courtesy

courtesy
I
(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)
Politeness
Nouns
1. courtesy, courteousness; respect; good manners, behavior, or breeding; manners, politeness, urbanity, comity, gentility, breeding, cultivation, polish, grace, civility, culture, civilization, social graces; tact, diplomacy; amenity, suavity; good or easy temper, good humor, amiability, gentleness, soft tongue; humility, affability, gallantry, chivalry, bushido; hospitality, cordiality. See sociality, benevolence.
2. (act of courtesy) compliment; fair, soft, or sweet words, honeyed phrases; greeting, salutation, reception, presentation, introduction, mark of recognition, nod, recognition; welcome, respects, devoir, welcome mat; valediction, farewell, good-bye; regards, remembrances; kind regards or remembrances.
3. (act of respect) obeisance, reverence, bow, curtsy, salaam; kneeling, genuflection (see worship); salute, handshake, grip of the hand, embrace, hug, squeeze; accolade. Informal, high sign, glad hand.
4. guest, invitee, visitor; host[ess], greeter.
Verbs
1. be courteous, show courtesy, keep a civil tongue in one's head; receive, do the honors, usher, greet, hail, bid welcome, accost, welcome [with open arms]; entertain, host; shake hands; hold out, press, or squeeze the hand; roll out the red carpet; bid Godspeed, see off; speed the parting guest. Informal, have one's latch string out.
2. (show courtesy) embrace, kiss hands, kiss on the cheek; drink to, pledge, hob and nob; move to, nod to; smile upon; touch or take off the hat, doff the cap, uncover, cap; present arms, salute; make way for, bow, make one's bow; curtsy, bob [a curtsy], kneel, bend the knee, prostrate oneself.
3. visit, wait upon, present oneself, pay one's respects, pay a visit (see sociality); pass the time of day; dance attendance on (see servility); pay attentions to, do homage to (see respect).
4. (show good manners) mind one's Ps and Qs, behave oneself, be allthings to all men, conciliate, speak one fair, take in good part; look as ifbutter would not melt in one's mouth; mind one's manners.
5. (make more courteous) polish, cultivate, civilize, humanize.
Adjectives — courteous, polite, civil, mannerly, urbane, continental, cosmopolitan; well-behaved, well-mannered, well-bred, well brought up, gentlemanly, courtly, gallant, chivalrous; good-mannered, polished, civilized, cultivated, refined (see taste); fine-spoken, fair-spoken, soft-spoken; honey-mouthed or -tongued; mealy-mouthed; obliging, conciliatory, onone's good behavior, ingratiating, winning; genteel; gentle, mild; goodhumored, cordial, gracious, affable, amiable, familiar, suave; neighborly; hospitable, cordial.
Adverbs — courteously; with a good grace, with open or outstretched arms.
Interjections — greetings! salutations! good morning, afternoon, or evening; how do you do! Informal, howdy! how's tricks? long time no see!
Phrases — a civil question deserves a civil answer; civility costs nothing; one can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
Quotations — To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war (Winston Churchill), My father used to say, "Superior people never make long visits" (Marianne Moore), Charm is a way of getting the answer yes without ever having asked a clear question (Albert Camus).
Antonyms, see discourtesy.
II
(Roget's IV) n.
1. [Courteous conduct]
Syn. politeness, civility, courteousness, graciousness, good manners, kindness, courtliness, complaisance, affability, gentleness, consideration, thoughtfulness, sympathy, geniality, cordiality, friendliness, solicitude, amiability, tact, good behavior, mannerliness, politesse, amenities, etiquette, comity, culture, refinement, address, cultivation, chivalry, urbanity, gallantry, respect, attention, favor, deference, elegance of manners, polished manners, good breeding, gentle breeding, formality, gentility, suavity, blandness; see also behavior 1 , ceremony 2 , kindness 1 .
2. [Courteous act]
Syn. attention, service, favor, polite gesture, act of politeness, mark of attention, gift, kindness, compassion, benevolence, accommodation, indulgence, generosity, charity; see also kindness 2 .
III
(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.
politeness, good manners, civility, respect, consideration, graciousness, refinement, gentleness, formality, tact. ''The art of choosing among one's real thoughts.''— Abel Stevens.
ANT.: rudeness, discourtesy, informality
IV
(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun 1. Well-mannered behavior toward others: civility, courteousness, genteelness, gentility, mannerliness, politeness, politesse. See COURTESY. 2. A courteous act or courteous acts that contribute to smoothness and ease in dealings and social relationships: amenity (used in plural), civility, pleasantry, politeness, propriety (used in plural). See COURTESY. 3. An act requiring special generosity: beau geste, compliment, favor. See GIVE.

English dictionary for students. 2013.

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  • courtesy — [kʉrt′ə sē; ] for 4 [, kʉrt′sē] n. pl. courtesies [ME courteisie < OFr curteisie: see COURTEOUS] 1. courteous behavior; gracious politeness 2. a polite, helpful, or considerate act or remark 3. an act or usage intended to honor or compliment… …   English World dictionary

  • Courtesy — Cour te*sy (k?r t? s?), n.; pl. {Courtesies} ( s?z). [OE. cortaisie, corteisie, courtesie, OF. curteisie, cortoisie, OF. curteisie, cortoisie, F. courtoisie, fr. curteis, corteis. See {Courteous}.] 1. Politeness; civility; urbanity; courtliness.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Courtesy — comes from old french courteis (12th century) is gentle politeness and courtly manners. In the Middle Ages in Europe, the behaviour expected of the gentry was compiled in courtesy books. One of the most influential of these was Il Cortegiano (The …   Wikipedia

  • courtesy — courtesy, amenity, attention, gallantry are comparable when they denote a manner or an act which promotes agreeable or pleasant social relations. Courtesy suggests consideration for others or deference (as to their rank, sex, or age); it usually… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • courtesy — ► NOUN (pl. courtesies) 1) courteous behaviour. 2) a polite speech or action, especially one required by convention. ● (by) courtesy of Cf. ↑courtesy of …   English terms dictionary

  • Courtesy — Courte sy (k[^u]rt s[y^]), n. [See the preceding word.] An act of civility, respect, or reverence, made by women, consisting of a slight depression or dropping of the body, with bending of the knees. [Written also {curtsy} and {curtsey}.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • courtesy — [n1] good manners address, affability, amenities, amiability, attentiveness, ceremony, chivalry, civility, comity, complaisance, consideration, cordiality, courteousness, courtliness, cultivation, culture, deference, elegance, familiarity, favor …   New thesaurus

  • Courtesy — Courte sy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Courtesied} ( s[i^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Courtesying}.] To make a respectful salutation or movement of respect; esp. (with reference to women), to bow the body slightly, with bending of the knes. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Courtesy — Courte sy, v. t. To treat with civility. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • courtesy — I noun affability, amenity, amiability, chivalry, civility, comitas, comity, complaisance, consideration, cordiality, courteous conduct, courteousness, courtliness, deference, elegance of manners, etiquette, excellence of behavior, friendliness,… …   Law dictionary

  • courtesy — early 13c., curteisie, from O.Fr. curteisie (Mod.Fr. courtoisie), from curteis courteous (see COURTEOUS (Cf. courteous)). A specialized sense of curteisie is the source of English CURTSY (Cf. curtsy) …   Etymology dictionary

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