courteous

From Middle English curteis, from Old French curteis (French courtois), from cort (“court”).

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈkɝti.əs/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈkɜːti.əs/

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courteous (comparative more courteous, superlative most courteous)

1. Showing regard or thought for others; especially, displaying good manners or etiquette.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:polite

   Antonyms: discourteous, uncourteous; see also Thesaurus:impolite

   a courteous gentleman   a courteous gesture

   • 1818, John Keats, “Book III”, in Endymion: A Poetic Romance, London: […] [T. Miller] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, page 149, lines 932–935:

     Nectar ran / In courteous fountains to all cups outreach'd; / And plunder'd vines, teeming exhaustless, pleach'd / New growth about each shell and pendent lyre; [...]

• courtesy

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