word-vault/dist/data/cards/co/courtesy.json

A lightweight JavaScript package for English word definitions and collections.

{
    "term": "courtesy",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "c1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "polite behaviour that shows respect for other people",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I was treated with the utmost courtesy by the staff."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We asked them, **as a matter of courtesy**, if we could photograph their house."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's only **common courtesy** to tell the neighbours that we'll be having a party *(= the sort of behaviour that people would expect)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He listened to all the complaints with great courtesy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's a matter of courtesy to write and thank people after a party."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's common courtesy to warn your neighbours if your children are going to have a party."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She contacts clients regularly as a professional courtesy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "her unfailing courtesy to everyone"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He bowed his head with exaggerated courtesy."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We asked them as a matter of courtesy."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "politeness",
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["great", "unfailing", "utmost"],
                "verb + courtesy": ["do somebody", "have", "show"],
                "preposition": ["with courtesy", "courtesy to"],
                "phrases": ["a matter of courtesy"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a polite thing that you say or do when you meet people in formal situations",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "an exchange of courtesies before the meeting"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The prime minister was welcomed with the usual courtesies."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "with the official permission of somebody/something and as a favour",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The pictures have been reproduced by courtesy of the British Museum."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "given as a prize or provided free by a person or an organization",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Win a weekend in Rome, courtesy of Fiat."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "as the result of a particular thing or situation",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Viewers can see the stadium from the air, courtesy of a camera fastened to the plane."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be polite by doing the thing that is mentioned",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Please do me the courtesy of listening to what I'm saying."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She might have done me the courtesy of replying to my letter."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to know when you should do something in order to be polite",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You think he'd at least have the courtesy to call to say he'd be late."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You could at least have had the courtesy to let me know."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈkɜːtəsi/",
                "audio": "co/courtesy/courtesy__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈkɜːrtəsi/",
                "audio": "co/courtesy/courtesy__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French cortesie, from corteis, based on Latin cohors ‘yard, retinue’."
}