What does courtly mean?
Courtly means Befitting of a royal court; reflecting the manners or behaviour of people at court..
Courtly
/ˈkɔːtli/ · adjective
Meaning
Befitting of a royal court; reflecting the manners or behaviour of people at court..
Definitions by Sense
- Befitting of a royal court; reflecting the manners or behaviour of people at court.
- Of or relating to a royal court.
- (obsolete) Overly eager to please or obey.
- In the manner of a royal court; in a manner befitting of a royal court.
Example Sentences
He swept off his hat and made a deep courtly bow.
The troubadours sang songs about courtly love.
Corin: You have too courtly a wit for me; I’ll rest.
[…] you must give men of Quality leave to speak in a Language more Gentile and Courtly than the ordinary sort of mankind.
He is a Master of Civility, no less well-bred to his own Sex than courtly to the other.
As they abased themselves before him, Mr. Micawber took a seat, and waved his hand in his most courtly manner.
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.
She tried to remain aloof from courtly intrigues.
Synonyms for courtly
Antonyms for courtly
Related Words
Word Forms
- courtlier
- courtliest
- more courtly
- most courtly
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for courtly?
Common synonyms include refined, dignified, genteel, well-mannered.
What is the opposite of courtly?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use courtly in a sentence?
He swept off his hat and made a deep courtly bow.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.