Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒurteisīe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cǒurteisīe n. Also corteisie, curteisie, -aisie, -asie, -esie, -isy. |
| Etymology | AF curteisie (CF courtoisie). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The complex of courtly ideals; chivalry, chivalrous conduct; also, contextually, one of these ideals, as courtly love, benevolence, kindness, cheerfulness.
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)112b : Of ancre curteisie, of ancre largesce, is icumen ofte sunne ant scheome on ende.
- ?a1300 Thrush & N.(Dgb 86)26 : Hit is shome to blame leuedy, For hy beþ hende of corteisy.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)194 : Til þat she were twelf winter hold..And þat she covþe of curteysye Gon [?read: Don] and speken of luue-drurye.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4351 : Sire wawein is neueu, flour of corteysye.
- c1330(?a1300) KAlex.(Auch)270 : Michel wope, michel wailing Oft bimene his pruesse His ȝingþe and his hardinisse..his curteisie [vr. cortesye].
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)18/10 : He is wel vileyn..þet..yelt him kuead uor guod, and vileynye uor corteysye.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)75/3 : Guo in-to þe londe of þe libbynde..þet is ine paradys. Þer me lyerneþ wel to libbe and wyt an corteysye, uor þer ne may guo in no uyleynye.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3686 : In youthe a maister hadde this emperour To teche hym lettrure and curteisye, For of moralitee he was the flour.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.166 : To alle hir werkes vertu is hir gyde; Humblesse hath slayn in hir al tirannye. She is mirour of alle curteisye; Hir herte is verray chambre of holynesse, Hir hand, ministre of fredam for almesse.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5397 : A lusti Maide, a sobre, a meke, Fulfild of alle curtesie.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1530 : Þat som tyme was curtasy cald, Now wille yhong men velany hald.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2019-26 : I bere of love the gonfanoun, Of curtesie the banere; For I am of the silf manere, Gentil, curteys, meke, and fre..that he hym observe ..fro vilanye, And hym governe in curtesie.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2293 : Alwey in herte I rede thee Glad and mery for to be..Love hath no joye of sorowful man. That yvell is full of curtesie That laughith in his maladie; For ever of love the siknesse Is meynd with swete and bitternesse.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3539 : Curtesie wol that ye socoure Hem that ben meke undir youre cure.
- a1425 WBible(1) (CmbAdd 6681)2 Mac.14.9 : Manlynesse or curtesye [Dc 369(2): Thou kyng..byholde to the cuntree and kyn, after thi manlynesse [L humanitatem] shewid to alle men].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)26b/b : Facecia: curteysy.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)111 : Curtesy: Facecia, urbanitas, curialitas.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)358 : Norture or curtesye: Curialitas, urbanitas.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5112 : Ȝour curtassy, ȝour kniȝthede, & all ȝoure clene thewis.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)5441 : Ofte I haue hard saye..A woman to take be hyr own wille Ys thefte of curtessy.
2.
(a) Refinement of manners; gentlemanly or courteous conduct; courtesy, politeness, etiquette; ruled ~, ?modesty, restraint; for no ~, out of any consideration for politeness; ~ rises, a question of propriety arises; (b) a courteous or considerate act; don ~, be courteous; sheuen short ~, show little courtesy; seien ~, make a proper suggestion; (c) conduct, behavior.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Degare (Auch)819 : Sire Degarre couþe of curteisie.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.46 : He loued chiualrye, Trouthe and honour, fredom and curteisye.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1669 : Lordynges..but o thyng I desire; I yow biseke that, of youre curteisye, Syn ye han herd this false frere lye, As suffreth me I may my tale telle.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2309 : I shal nat spare, for no curteisye, To speke hym harm that wolde vs vileynye.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.95 : This straunge knyght..Salueth kyng and queene..With so heigh reuerence and obeisaunce, As wel in speche as in contenaunce, That Gawayn, with his olde curteisye..Ne koude hym nat amende with a word.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4908 : Pandea is a land..Þere-inne is jolifte, curteisie, and pride.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.64 : This Troilus, in wise of curteysie, With hauk on honde, and with an huge route Of knyghtes, rood and did hire companye.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)117/19 : Sche myth [not] stondyn a-geyns her comyng, as curtesy wolde, but lenyd hir to a peler in þe chirche.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)163 : Al founde they Daunger for a tyme a lord, Yet Pitee..made Mercy passen Ryght, Thurgh innocence and ruled Curtesye.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)248/13 : Betwix þe fadur & þe son..suld naturall curtasy & honor be kepid..þe son suld wurshup þe fadur or þe mother.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)135 : Then atte Chirch dorr the curtesy gan to ryse, Tyl þe knyȝt of gentilnes, þat knewe riȝte wele þe guyse, Put forth þe Prelatis, þe Person, & his fere.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)654 : He schalle knele downe opon his kne, Ellys he forȝetes his curtase.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)5406 : Ye bothe forgatte your curtasye, To stele away so prevelye.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)58 : She thawȝth hyt curtesye and thewe, Golde and sylke for to sewe.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)425 : I sente aftur her..To teche my chylderen curtesye.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)469 : He was full of feire courtesie and a feire speker.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)17b : Summes curteisie is iturnt hire to uuel.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)162/7 : Þe knyȝt..wilneþ corteysyes to done, an largeliche yeue, and kny[ȝ]thod to lyerny and guo to armes.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1329 : That is no curtesie Me to deuoyde, but rather vileynye.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)534 : Hit sittes..to a sure knyghte Þat ayres into vnkoth lond, auntres to seche, To be counseld..This curtysy he claymes as for clere det.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)430/28 : Many knyghtes made their avowe..that they wolde shew her shorte curtesy.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)860 : 'Eche man chese hym a mayde þat hym lyketh to fere!'..'Damysel,' sayde Roulond, 'ye sey Curtesi.'
c
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)862 : Þe scheperde keppid his staf ful warme..He wold no man toke it hym fro..Sich was his curtasy!
3.
(a) Benevolent or humane disposition or conduct; good will, kindness, hospitality, generosity; don ~, do (sb.) a kindness; (b) for (of) your ~, kindly, if you please.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3918 : Þe kinges los so wyde sprong ynou, Of godnesse & of cortesye, þat hor herte to him drou.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)36/34 : Hi habbeþ ham y-lend a lyte zeluer..oþer ydo zome cortaysye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.179 : The sowdan of Surrye..wolde, of his benygne curteisye, Make hem good cheere.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2495 : Alisaunder..took Darries moder and wijf And his douȝtter..Þere dude Alisaunder curteisie. He kepte hem from vche vilenye.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)13 : Bot if þay [priests] conterfete crafte and cortaysye wont..Þen ar þay synful hemself.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.317 : Þauh þe kyng, of hys cortesye..Ȝeue lond oþer lordshup.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4555 : Curtesie certeyn dide he me..Whanne he the hay passen me let, To kisse the Rose.
- c1440(?a1375) Abbey HG (Thrn)57/10 : Dameselle Curtasye sall be hostelere..scho sall þam resafe hendely.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)185 : Þis is doon..aboue comoun riȝt and equyte or curtesie.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)198 : Þe lord or fadir wole forȝeue sum trespace..for his owne manhode and curtesie.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3287 : Lat be, Nicholas..Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)24574 : Sin i him mai noght haue in lijf, Gis me him ded..for your curtesi [Göt: curtasie; Phys-E: curtaisi].
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)157/172 : Syr kynge, ffor þi curtesy, telle us..in what town gynnyth he dwelle.
4.
Of a deity: beneficence, grace, mercy, or an instance of it.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)97/36 : Loke þe greate cortaysie of..Iesu cirst..þet com..to souy þet þet was uorlore.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.20 : He hihte þe eorþe to seruen ow vchone..Comaundet, of his Cortesye, In Comune þreo þinges..Clothing..Mete..And drink.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13355 : Was noght his [Christ's] curtasi vn-kidd, Þat he ne it sceud wit mani dedes.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)12.79 : Cryste, of his curteisye, þorw clergye hir saued.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)417 : Wel knew I þi cortaysye, þy quoynt soffraunce, Þy bounte of debonerte..þy late vengaunce.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)456-7 : My Lady of quom Jesu con spryng, Ho haldez þe empyre ouer vus ful hyȝe..For ho is Quene of cortaysye. Of courtaysye..Al arn we membrez Of Jesu Kryst.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)480 : What more worschyp moȝt ho fonge Þen corounde be kyng by cortayse?
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.378 : Crist, of his curtasie [vr. curtesie], interpretiþ þer wordis to goode.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)80/8 : Saynt Brandan..sawe þys Iudas syttyng on a stone yn þe see..'I am Iudas, Godis traytour, þat haue þis place of Godys curtesy for refreschyng of þe gret hete þat I suffred wythyn.
- c1500 Castle Love(3) (Ashm 61)125 : God all-myȝht..dyde hym þat grete curtasy, Of paradys gaue hym þe masterry.
5.
(a) A gracious reward or gift; (b) a gratuity or donation; (c) a compliment.
Associated quotations
a
- (1315) Close R.Edw.II306 : [Minstrels should be satisfied with the..] curtasie [that the lord may give them of his free will].
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1154 : Vaire he þonkede is gode folc & gret corteisie Of ȝiftes delde among hom.
b
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)54/37 : He to paie a curtesie to þe almes, as þe wardeyns & he mowe assenten.
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)60/66 : He to don a curteysye at his incomynge to þe almesse box.
c
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.528 : Y-com þou art of heiȝe linage..It is þe litel curteysie To do me swiche vilanie.
6.
Associated quotations
- [ (1321-2) RParl.1.399b : Et tynt par la corteysie de Engleterre. ]
- (1461) RParl.5.485b : That the seid James may..the same halfendele seise, have, hold and enjoye to hym for terme of his lyf, as Tenaunt by the Curtesie.
- (a1467) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.lxxvii : The seid Elisabeth died, and the seid erle of Warrwyk, lord and fader to the seid countesse..held hym in the seid manours of Wotton and other as tenaunt by the courtesye, and died thereof seaisid.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1456) *Court R.Long Bennington : Prior sued for debt of 5/ 'cum curtesy de eo.'
Note: Usual procedure to sue with statement of damnum which varied with length of time. Above seems another euphemism for interest.
Note: ?Belongs to sense 5.(b).
Note: Gloss: ?also, money paid for forbearance of a debt, interest.
Note: List of variant spellings in the form section may not be complete. (MED ī(e suf.(4) may need revision to include some of the suffix endings included here.) Revised form section: Also courtesie, courtaisie, corteisi(e, cortesie, cortais(i)e, curteisi(e, curtesi(e, curtessi, curtasi(e, curtaisi, curtassi, curtase, curtisi.--notes per MLL