curtesy Definition
- 1(historical) the life interest in a deceased wife's property given by law to her husband, provided he has a child by her who could inherit the property
- 2(archaic) courteous behavior; politeness
Using curtesy: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "curtesy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The curtesy law was abolished in most states in the US.
Example
He showed great curtesy to his guests.
Example
She accepted the gift with curtesy and gratitude.
curtesy Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for curtesy
Antonyms for curtesy
- discourtesy
- rudeness
Phrases with curtesy
a bow made by a man, especially in ballroom dancing, to his partner or to the audience
Example
He executed a perfect curtesy of the floor before leading his partner into a waltz.
Example
He was granted a curtesy title after his wife inherited her father's barony.
the practice of yielding to oncoming traffic by pulling over to the side of the road
Example
In some countries, curtesy of the road is a legal requirement when driving on narrow roads.
Summary: curtesy in Brief
The term 'curtesy' [ˈkɜːtəsi] has two meanings. The first one is historical and refers to the life interest in a deceased wife's property given by law to her husband, provided he has a child by her who could inherit the property. The second meaning is archaic and refers to courteous behavior and politeness. It is often used in phrases like 'curtesy of the floor,' which denotes a bow made by a man to his partner or audience in ballroom dancing.
