courtlier; courtliest
2
: favoring the policy or party of the court
courtliness
noun
Examples of courtly in a Sentence
Adjective
his courtly manners made him a favorite escort of widowed socialites
Recent Examples on the Web
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
The pianist Steven Blier, who co-founded NYFOS in 1988 and remains its artistic director, is one of the most imaginative programmers in classical music, his myriad interests bursting the courtly confines of the vocal recital.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Michael Dirda, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
The waltz and polonaise patterns for a courtly ensemble are serene — and, due to the repetitive nature of Tchaikovsky’s third symphony, sometimes a tad dull.
—Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for courtly
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Adjective
The courtly British comedy finds Albert Finney embracing saucy adventures and getting into swordfights as a squire cast out of his kingdom.
80.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026
The pianist Steven Blier, who co-founded NYFOS in 1988 and remains its artistic director, is one of the most imaginative programmers in classical music, his myriad interests bursting the courtly confines of the vocal recital.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Adverb
But as all the world knows, Edmond Dantès did rise again, transformed from an innocent young sailor into that courtly yet implacable avenger, the Count of Monte Cristo.
—Michael Dirda, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
The waltz and polonaise patterns for a courtly ensemble are serene — and, due to the repetitive nature of Tchaikovsky’s third symphony, sometimes a tad dull.
—Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for courtly
Cite this Entry
“Courtly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courtly. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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