courtly
UK/'kɒ:tli/US
TOEFLA2
Definitions
adj.
Refined, dignified, and elegant in manner, as befits a royal court
宫廷般文雅的，举止高雅的
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedcourt (royal court) + -ly (in the manner of) = in the manner of the court: refined, ceremonious, elegant. Unlike courteous (everyday politeness), courtly keeps the grand, old-fashioned flavor of palace life — hence 'courtly manners' and 'courtly love.'
Root court still carries 8 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.courtly manners宫廷式风度
- 2.courtly love典雅爱情
- 3.courtly bow宫廷式鞠躬
Example Sentences
- 1.
He greeted the guests with a courtly bow.
- 2.
Her grandfather had an old-fashioned, courtly charm.
- 3.
The novel describes the courtly love of medieval knights.
Easily Confused
courtly vs courteous — both come from court, but courteous = ordinary politeness (courteous staff), while courtly = grandly refined, often archaic or literary (courtly love). You'd call a hotel clerk courteous, not courtly.