Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Courtly

Court′ly

(-l?)
,
Adj.
[From
Court
.]
1.
Relating or belonging to a court.
2.
Elegant; polite; courtlike; flattering.
In
courtly
company or at my beads.
Shakespeare
3.
Disposed to favor the great; favoring the policy or party of the court; obsequious.
Macaulay.

Court′ly

,
adv.
In the manner of courts; politely; gracefully; elegantly.
They can produce nothing so
courtly
writ.
Dryden

Webster 1828 Edition


Courtly

COURTLY

,
Adj.
[court and like.] Relating to a court; elegant; polite with dignity; applied to men and manners; flattering, applied to language.

COURTLY

,
adv.
In the manner of courts; elegantly; in a flattering manner.

Definition 2024


courtly

courtly

English

Adjective

courtly (comparative courtlier, superlative courtliest)

  1. Suitable for a royal court; refined, dignified.
  2. Obsequious, flattering.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Macaulay to this entry?)