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impartially. [Colloq.] -- To bid fair. See under Bid. -- To speak fair, to address with courtesy and frankness. [Archaic]

niously and without constraint; esp., in the pl., such actions and words as propriety and courtesy do not warrant; liberties.

To smooth or polish as with a file. Shak. File your tongue to a little more courtesy.Sir W.Scott.

rance without the substance or essence; external; as, formal duty; formal worship; formal courtesy, etc.

Civility or polite attention to ladies; in a bed sense, attention or courtesy designed to win criminal favors from a female; freedom of principle or practice with respect to female virtue; intrigue.

Gentleness; courtesy; kindness; nobility. [Obs.] Chaucer.

y or qualities appropriate to those who are well born, as self-respect, dignity, courage, courtesy, politeness of manner, a graceful and easy mien and behavior, etc.; good breeding.

Courtesy; civility; complaisance. [Obs.] To show us so much gentry and good will. Shak.

An act of submission or courtesy. With these humilities they satisfied the young king. Sir J. Davies.

our doubtful speech. Prior. Sometimes we identify the words with the object -- though be courtesy of idiom rather than in strict propriety of language. Coleridge. Every good writer has much idiom. Landor. It is not by means of rules that such idioms as the following are made current: "I can make nothing of it." "He tr…

The quality or state of being uncivil; want of courtesy; rudeness of manner; impoliteness. Shak. Tillotson.

e in science as in bliss, Initiate in the secrets of the skies. Young. Initiate tenant by courtesy (Law), said of a husband who becomes such in his wife's estate of inheritance by the birth of a child, but whose estate is not consummated till the death of the wife. Mozley & W.

Want of urbanity or courtesy; unpolished manners or deportment; inurbaneness; rudeness. Bp. Hall.

A bending of the knee, as in respect or courtesy. Give them title, knee, and approbation. Shak. Knee breeches. See under Breeches. -- Knee holly, Knee holm (Bot.), butcher's broom. -- Knee jerk (Physiol.) a jerk or kick produced by a blow or sudden strain upon the patellar tendon of the knee, which causes a sudden co…

nobleman not lower than an earl. The wife of a baronet or knight has the title of Lady by courtesy, but not by right.

ons of success; a principle, maxim; or usage; as, the laws of poetry, of architecture, of courtesy, or of whist.

Letters; literature. [Obs.] "To teach him letterure and courtesy." Chaucer.

man., whether a peer of the realm or not; a bishop, as a member of the House of Lords; by courtesy; the son of a duke or marquis, or the eldest son of an earl; in a restricted sense, a boron, as opposed to noblemen of higher rank. [Eng.]

A French title of courtesy given to a girl or an unmarried lady, equivalent to the English Miss. Goldsmith.

A grandee or nobleman of Venice; -- so called in courtesy. Shak.