curteis

Middle English

Alternative forms

• cortayse, corteis, courtays, courteis, curtais, curtays, curtayse, curtes, curteise, curteys, curtois

Etymology

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman curteis and continental Old French corteis, cortois; compare court.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kurˈtæi̯s/, /ˈkurtis/

Adjective

curteis

1. Appropriate for a court; cultured, elegant, refined.
2. Courteous, charitable, kind.
3. Showing due deference; respectful, humble.

Related terms

• curteisie
• curteisly

Descendants

• English: courteous (remodelled after -ous)
  • → Scots: courteous

References

• “cǒurteis, adj. & n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Old French

Adjective

curteis m (oblique and nominative feminine singular curteise)

1. (Anglo-Norman) Alternative form of corteis