English Dictionary

Definition of “courtly

courtly (ˈkɔːtlɪPronunciation for courtly

Definitions

adjective

  1. of or suitable for a royal court
  2. refined in manner
  3. ingratiating

Alternative Forms

ˈcourtliness noun

Usage examples

  • Hugh relinquished the mike and kissed her hand in a courtly fashion.
    Cathy Kelly, JUST BETWEEN US (2002)
  • Nor do we even have the more colourful aspects of traditional courtly politics.
    Spiked (2004)
  • Patrician in bearing and courtly in manner, Sharp was a self-made man.
    canada.com (2004)
  • Nikolai Cherkasov's central performance helps to balance some of the plot's more obscure courtly intrigue.
    Times, Sunday Times (2002)
  • Rather, the poetry of love which is the dominant note of Mechthild's writings owes much to then-popular notions of courtly love.
    Peter Stanford, HEAVEN: A Traveller's Guide to the Undiscovered Country (2002)

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