court
5
7.7
- noun
- /kɔrt/
- Formal
:
cortejo
- Danny, Jack, and Eugene are eating while Rascal holds court with a group of fresh-faced rookies.
You always holding court here at the radio station and you got a funny laugh, man.
- You always holding court here at the radio station and you got a funny laugh, man.
- And Plato did get made fun of by another student, Antisthenes, who said you go to pay court to tyrants.
- And as soon as I walk in, he's holding court.
- Listen, some people just like to hold court.
- The narcissist often sits there as though they are holding court and receiving what they believe is there.
- My advice is get in there early, stay sober, find the people you like, leave with them, go to a happy hour and not sit there and watch the narcissist hold to court.
Examples
-
The colonel met her and paid court to her before Sir Robert did.
Fiction book (1993) -
A group of banner-bearing protesters held court on a makeshift dais.
Academic text (2016) -
I'm sure that if Sir Brack were near he would have come and paid court to you as he always does.
-
I think she'll flirt with any officer who pays court to her, be he British or American.
Fiction book (1994) -
He paid court to her by complimenting her every chance he got.
-
The suitor's attempts to pay court to the princess were met with enthusiasm.
-
Many people came to court the wealthy merchant, hoping for a beneficial alliance.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Polite actions or words that show you value someone
61
6.8
Public respect shown to someone or something in a formal ceremony
34
7.8
Polite respect that makes you accept someone's wishes or opinions
4
6.0
A bow or action that shows deep respect to someone
1
8.1
Polite and elegant behavior like people at a royal court
1
3.9
Polite and kind behavior toward other people's feelings and wishes
A polite way of behaving that shows respect for other people
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
1
9.0
To reject something as silly and not take it seriously in places like a court or meeting
Compounds
656
3.1
The highest court in the United States that makes final decisions for all other courts
121
3.1
A court the national government uses to decide cases about laws for the whole country
- Formal
108
3.5
An official instruction from a court telling someone to do or stop doing something
- UK
46
4.5
The top group of judges in a country or state that hears the most important cases and appeals
24
2.7
A place in a shopping mall with many stalls selling different foods around shared tables
- Formal
22
3.3
The highest court in the United States that decides important national cases and reviews lower court decisions
- Formal
18
5.0
A group of judges who review and can change decisions from lower courts
- Formal
15
7.5
Showing disrespect to a judge or refusing to obey a court order that can be punished
- Formal
10
4.9
A group of officers who try members of the armed forces for breaking their rules
- Literature
9
4.4
The public's opinion about a person or issue formed outside a legal trial
9
2.7
The highest court in the United States that decides important questions about the law for the whole country
8
4.2
The highest group of judges in a U.S. state who decide appeals about state law
- Formal
8
3.7
A court that ends marriages and decides matters like child custody and property
- Informal
6
8.8
An unfair trial that pretends to be legal and decides guilt beforehand
3
5.0
An international court that settles disputes between countries and gives advice on international law
- Formal
2
7.9
A person or group not in a case who gives information about the law to help the court decide
- Informal
2
5.1
A strong, aggressive effort to reach a goal quickly, often to win support
A court that settles legal disputes between countries and gives legal advice to the United Nations
1
9.1
A secret United States court that allows electronic monitoring and searches for foreign intelligence
- Formal
1
5.7
A federal court that reviews cases from lower courts in a group of states
- Archaic
1
4.6
A lower court that handles minor crimes and sends serious cases to a higher court
- Formal
1
7.7
A military court that tries soldiers for less serious crimes, usually with three officers
A major American Civil War battle in May 1864 between Grant and Lee
A major 1778 battle in New Jersey during the American Revolution that made British troops leave
- Formal
A court that handles disputes about trusts and wills and can order someone to stop actions, not criminal cases
- Formal
A court set up by a written agreement to decide disputes about a town or group's rules
- Archaic
A former county court in England that heard serious criminal and civil trials
- Formal
A court that deals with fairness in legal cases, like trusts and estates
- Formal
A court that deals with family matters like custody, divorce, and child support
- Formal
A court that deals with family problems like divorce, child custody, and support
- Formal
A quick military trial held in the field for urgent offenses without the usual rules
A major 1778 battle in New Jersey during the American Revolution where the British army withdrew
- Archaic
A small roadside hotel or group of cabins where you can park near your room
How Deferential
Surface Forms
Etymology
Court in the phrase 'pay court' comes from people showing respect at a ruler's court to gain favour, so to pay court means to give respectful attention hoping for favour.