Standard Lemma guide

courtliness

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The quality of being courtly; refinement of manners.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

elegance suggestive of a royal court

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: elegance

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English courtly Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English courtliness From courtly + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Old French: pruësce — the quality of being courtly
  • Old French: noblesce — the quality of being courtly
  • Old French: deboneireté — the quality of being courtly
  • Irish: cúirtiúlacht — the quality of being courtly
  • Italian: cortigianeria — the quality of being courtly
  • Romanian: curtoazie — the quality of being courtly
  • Romanian: curtenie — the quality of being courtly