English
Etymology
Shortened from courtesy. rfe|needs reference, expansion
Alternative spellings
curtsy
Noun
en-noun|plcurtsies|pl2curtseys
- A small bow, generally performed by a woman, where she briefly bends her knees and lowers her body in deference.
#:I refused to make so much as a curtsey for the passing nobles, as I am a staunch egalitarian.
Quotations
1868, s:Author:Lousia May Alcott|Louisa May Alcott, s:Little_Women/Chapter_19|Little Women
:...making stately curtsies, and sweeping her train about with a rustle...
1928, s:Author:D._H._Lawrence|D.H. Lawrence, s:Lady_Chatterley's_Lover/Chapter_2|Lady Chatterley's Lover
:No caps were touched, no curtseys bobbed.
Translations
trans-top|small bow of knees and lowered body, usually by a female
Finnish: niiaus
French: révérence
trans-mid
Portuguese: cortesia f, reverência f
trans-bottom
Verb
en-verb| inf=to curtsey | curtsies or curtseys | curtsying or curtseying | curtsied or curtseyed
- To make a curtsey.
#:The hotel's staff variously curtsied, nodded, and bowed to the owner as she passed.
Quotations
1841, s:Author:Charles_Dickens|Charles Dickens, s:Barnaby_Rudge/Chapter_19|Barnaby Rudge
:"I�m sure you�ll excuse me, sir," said Mrs Varden, rising and curtseying.
1861, s:Author:George_Eliot|George Eliot, s:Silas_Marner/Chapter_11|Silas Marner
:On the other hand, Mrs. Ladbrook was standing in skull-cap and front, with her turban in her hand, curtsying and smiling blandly...
1887, s:Author:Author:H._Rider_Haggard|H. Rider Haggard, Quatermain/Chapter XVI|Allan Quatermain]
:'I be as nothing in the eyes of my lord,' and she curtseyed towards him...
1890, James Russell Lowell, Address in Publications of the Modern Language Association of America
:But DANTE was a great genius, and language curtesys to its natural Kings.
1903, s:Author:W.E.B._DuBois|W.E.B. DuBois?, s:The_Souls_of_Black_Folk/VII|The Souls of Black Folk
:He curtsied low, and then bowed almost to the ground, with an imperturbable gravity that seemed almost suspicious.
1908, Caroline Crawford, Folk Dances and Games
:The gentleman bows and the lady curtesys (measure eight).
Translations
trans-top|to make a curtsey
Finnish: niiata
trans-mid
Portuguese: cortejar
trans-bottom
et:curtsey
fr:curtsey
vi:curtsey
zh:curtsey
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