What does "courtesy" mean?
Courtesy: An act of civility or respect; an act of kindness or favor performed with politeness. My lord, for your many courtesies I thank you. Shak.
Additional senses
- 2.Favor or indulgence, as distinguished from right; as, a title given one by courtesy. Courtesy title, a title assumed by a person, or popularly conceded to him, to which he has no valid claim; as, the courtesy title of Lord prefixed to the names of the younger sons of noblemen. See Politeness.
- 3.An act of civility, respect, or reverence, made by women, consisting of a slight depression or dropping of the body, with bending of the kness. [Written also curtsy.] The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony proceeds as usual. Golgsmith.
- 4.To make a respectful salutation or movement of respect; esp. (with reference to women), to bow the body slightly, with bending of the knes.
- 5.To treat with civility. [Obs.]
Sources
- Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
- Canonical URL: https://worddirectanswers.com/answers/what-does-courtesy-mean
- Steward: Jason Burns
- Published: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00 · Modified: 2026-07-17T00:00:00-07:00