courtly
6
7.2
- adjective
- /ˈkɔːrtli/
- Literature
:
cortés
- With his courtly manners, he impressed everyone at the royal banquet.
- courtly love
- courtly romance
- courtly tradition
He was very courtly about my change of gender.
- He was very courtly about my change of gender.
- These men, in their courtly way, are telling the wizard, hey, back off, buddy, this is an important person.
- So the the courtly or Szilvulrich notion here is definitely on point.
Examples
-
He was very much conversant in the language of courtly love.
-
Walter was simply diffident and courtly, almost Old World, more comfortable with books than with people.
Fiction book (1995) -
These men, in their courtly way, are telling the wizard, hey, back off, buddy, this is an important person.
-
How does this understanding of love connect with the courtly love tradition.
-
A touch of the old courtly love, that's what gets to them every time.
Fiction book (1995) -
" I had said it in a courtly way, very sincerely."
Fiction book (1995) -
Before heading south, Papa took me for a walk, nodding in his courtly way to everyone we met.
Fiction book (1990) -
Montcalm steps forward and sweeps his plumed hat to the ground in a courtly bow.
Fiction book (1992) -
Marianna's relationship with Saro begins with the exchange of glances, in typical courtly love fashion.
Academic text (1995) -
In the perfumed court to the sultan, the days are passed in sweet music and gentle delights with gracious noblemen and courtly ladies.
Synonyms
394
3.0
Official and proper in a way suitable for important occasions
133
4.1
Being elegant and stylish and showing good taste
71
4.6
Calm and serious in a way that shows self respect and gets respect from others
43
3.7
Polite and respectful when you speak or behave
30
5.3
Having a grand and formal appearance like a king or queen
24
3.6
Large and impressive in appearance or manner
23
5.7
Having an impressive, calm look that makes people feel respect
19
7.2
Like people from rich, important families who have high social rank
17
4.4
Polite and considerate in a calm, respectful way
14
7.7
Polite and elegant in a way that tries to impress others
4
6.7
Having the style, power, or position of a king
4
4.1
Showing elegant, polite manners and good taste
4
8.6
Having polite, elegant manners like upper class people
3
7.9
Polite and showing good manners in formal situations
2
6.0
Show great dignity and generosity like royalty
1
4.1
Polite and behaving well around other people
1
8.5
Large and impressive, like a lord's old house or small castle
1
5.6
Having the calm, proud manner and look of a queen
Looking and behaving like a king
Showing a proud, grand manner that commands respect
Showing polite and respectful manners and appearance
Antonyms
Compounds
- Literature
1
9.9
A medieval style of romance where a knight secretly praised a lady he could not marry
How Refined
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Courtly comes from court, the 'royal court' where kings and guests met and where very polite, elegant manners were needed. So courtly means the kind of polite, graceful behaviour you would show 'at a royal court'.