Definition of comity
comities
1a : friendly social atmosphere : social harmony group activities promoting comity bipartisan comity in the Senateb : a loose widespread community based on common social institutions the comity of civilizationc : comity of nations trans-Atlantic comityd : 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
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Examples of comity in a Sentence
the comity that has always existed among the town's houses of worship
Recent Examples of comity from the Web
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For one thing, comity serves all, whereas being competitive and quick to take umbrage wins you nothing but stress.
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For one thing, comity serves all, where being competitive and quick to take umbrage wins you nothing but stress.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'comity'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Our country soweth also in the field of our breasts many precious seeds, as … honest behavior, affability, comity, wrote English clergyman Thomas Becon in 1543. Becon's use is the earliest documented appearance of comity - a word derived from Latin comitas, meaning "courteousness" (and probably related to the Sanskrit word for "he smiles"). Comity is largely used in political and judicial contexts. Since 1862 comity of nations has referred to countries bound by a courteous relationship based on mutual recognition of executive, legislative, and judicial acts. And, in legal contexts, comity refers to the recognition by courts of one jurisdiction of the laws and judicial decisions of another.
Origin and Etymology 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
Law Dictionary
comity
playLegal Definition of comity
2 : the informal and voluntary recognition by courts of one jurisdiction of the laws and judicial decisions of another —called also judicial comity — compare choice of law, federalism, full faith and credit
Learn More about comity
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for comity Britannica English: Translation of comity for Arabic speakers
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