courtly love

noun

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Definition of courtly love

: a late medieval conventionalized code prescribing conduct and emotions of ladies and their lovers

Recent Examples of courtly love from the Web

The structural necessity for demurral is why the wedded or betrothed have always provided such excellent seduction possibilities; think courtly love.

— laura kipnis, The Cut, "Should There Be a Future for Seduction?," 10 June 2018
The name for our modern holiday comes from St. Valentine of Terni, who has become linked with the idea of courtly love.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Valentine's Day 2018: Why do we celebrate Valentine's Day on Feb. 14? Fun facts, history and more," 14 Feb. 2018
Chaucer envisioned a linear decay of language and poetry stretching into the future, and Malory yearned to restore a (make-believe) past of courtly love.

— eric weiskott, Smithsonian, "The Timelessness of Millennial-Bashing," 11 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'courtly love.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.