comity

co·mi·ty

noun \ˈkä-mə-tē, ˈkō-\

plural co·mi·ties

Definition of COMITY

1

a : friendly social atmosphere : social harmony <group activities promoting comity>

b : a loose widespread community based on common social institutions <the comity of civilization>

c : comity of nations

d : the informal and voluntary recognition by courts of one jurisdiction of the laws and judicial decisions of another

2

: avoidance of proselytizing members of another religious denomination

Examples of COMITY

1. <the comity that has always existed among the town's houses of worship>

Origin of COMITY

Latin comitat-, comitas, from comis courteous, probably from Old Latin cosmis, from com- + -smis (akin to Sanskrit smayate he smiles) — more at smile

First Known Use: 1543

Related to COMITY

Synonyms

chime, harmony, compatibility, concord, peace

Antonyms

conflict, discord, dissension (also dissention), variance

Related Words

amity, companionship, compatibleness, congeniality, fellowship, fraternization, friendship; collaboration, reciprocity, symbiosis; agreement, consensus, unanimity; cohesion, cohesiveness, unity; affinity, connection, empathy, kinship, oneness, rapport, solidarity, sympathy, understanding; peacefulness, sereneness, serenity, sweetness and light, tranquillity (or tranquility)

Near Antonyms

antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hatred, hostility, unfriendliness; alienation, breach, divorce, estrangement, rupture, schism, scission, severance; dissent, dissidence; anarchy, disorder, disturbance, strife, turmoil