courtshipn.
/ˈkɔːtʃɪp/, U.S. /ˈkɔrtˌʃɪp/ a. Behaviour or action befitting a court or courtier; courtliness of manners. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > [noun] > good manners or polite behaviour > courtliness
gallantnessc1450
gallantise?1510
courtship1598
courtliness1599
gallantry1632
curiality1633
gallanturea1683
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 363 Trim gallants, full of Courtship and of state. View more context for this quotation
1601 J. Weever Mirror of Martyrs sig. Avjv For valour, wit, and court-ship, few came nie me.
1628 O. Felltham Resolves: 2nd Cent. xcv. sig. Bb4 A man may looke in vaine for Courtship, in a Plowman; or Learning in a Mechanicke.
1673 R. Leigh Transproser Rehears'd 79 How one of his private condition and breeding could arrive to this degree of court-ship.
b. Courteous behaviour; courtesy. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > [noun]
manshipOE
metheOE
courtesy?c1225
debonairty?c1225
gentrice?c1225
debonairshipa1240
hendlaika1250
fairnessc1275
hendiness?a1300
hendshipc1300
meeknessc1300
bonairty1303
bonairnessc1375
debonairness1382
humanityc1384
menskinga1400
hendnessc1400
comity1542
civilness1556
civility1561
courtshipa1640
discretion1752
a1640 P. Massinger & J. Fletcher Very Woman i. i. 85 in P. Massinger 3 New Playes (1655) Grant this, Which a meer stranger in the way of Courtship Might challenge from you.
1665 J. Webb Vindic. Stone-Heng (1725) 113 This Doctor might have had so much Courtship, or common Civility at least.
1719 in T. D'Urfey Wit & Mirth IV. 175 His Honour..in Courtship exceeding, Return'd a smart Speech.
c. with plural. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > [noun]
gentilessea1413
courtesya1475
humanitya1533
urbanities1630
courtship1631
civility1645
gallantry1673
complaisance1710
politeness1720
complacency1749
attention1752
customary1756
sensibility1795
personality1811
amenity1826
suavities1852
1631 T. May tr. J. Barclay Mirrour of Mindes i. 211 Besides other elegancies and courtships which the customes of the age doe teach them.
1655 Theophania 36 He was so unaccustomed to such Courtships, that he knew not what reply to make to his civil expressions.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > retainer or follower > [noun] > courtier > state befitting
courtship1597
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iii. iii. 34 More validitie..more courtship . View more context for this quotation
1630 tr. G. Botero Relations Famous Kingdomes World (rev. ed.) 362 He liveth in better fashion of Courtship, than the other Princes.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > retainer or follower > [noun] > courtier > office or practice of
courtingc1530
courtiership1561
courtship1641
1641 Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia sig. Cv Hitherto I have onely touched him in his Courtships. I conclude him in his Launce.
1659 T. Burton Diary (1828) IV. 62 I never had any office, nor any of my relations. I have no courtship.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > [noun]
fickling?c1225
flattering?c1225
oluhningc1225
glozec1290
glozing1297
losengery1303
blandishingc1305
blandingc1315
flatteryc1320
glotheringc1325
soothinga1400
honey word?1406
faginga1425
flatrisec1440
smekingc1440
blandishc1475
blandiment?1510
glavering1545
coggingc1555
good1563
milksop1577
court holy water1583
glavery1583
blandishment1591
lipsalve1591
court holy bread1592
flatter1593
colloguing1596
sooth1597
daub?1602
blandation1605
lullaby1611
court-water1616
butter1618
blandiloquy1623
oil1645
court-element1649
courtshipment1649
courtship1655
blandiloquence1656
court-creama1657
daubing1656
fleecha1700
Spanish money1699
cajole1719
whiting1721
palaver1733
butter boat1747
flummery1749
treacle1771
Spanish coin1785
blancmange1790
blarney1796
soft corn1814
whillywha1816
carney1818
buttering up1819
soft soap1821
flam1825
slaver1825
soft solder1836
soothing syrup1839
soft-soaping1840
plámás1853
sawder1854
soap1854
salve1859
taffy1878
plámásing1897
flannel1927
smarm1937
flannelling1945
sweet talk1945
schmear1950
smarming1950
society > authority > rule or government > politics > [noun] > political skill or statecraft > court-craft
court-craft1646
courtship1655
1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. D2v The Frenchman..is wholly compact of deceiuable Courtship.]
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. viii. 6 She [sc. Queen Mary] being composed of Courtship and Popery.
1659 J. Rushworth Hist. Coll. 219 Courtship, Flattery, and Pretence, become not Kings Counsellors.
1664 H. More Modest Enq. Myst. Iniquity 320 What-ever others out of fear or Courtship might call them.
1744 R. North & M. North Life Sir D. North & Rev. J. North 274 Who will think of rising by any Means but Courtship or Corruption?
a. The paying of court or courteous attentions; esp. the paying of ceremonial or complimentary acts of courtesy to (a dignitary). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [noun] > respectful attention
observancec1425
court1590
courtship1597
attendancya1600
observancy1601
observation1605
courting1607
assiduity1641
observantness1727
peculiarity1747
1597 W. Shakespeare Richard II i. iv. 23 Our selfe and Bushie, Obserued his courtship to the common people..What reuerence he did throw away on slaues.
1638 J. Ford Fancies Ded. A practice of Courtship to Greatnesse.
1641 J. Milton Of Reformation 74 The Magistrate..is to bee honour'd with a more elaborate and personall Courtship.
1730 J. Swift Libel on Doctor D——ny 4 Who pay'd his Courtship with the Croud, As far as Modest Pride allow'd.
b. with a and plural. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > respect > [noun] > manifestation of respect > act of dutiful respect
courtship?1611
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xv. 86 She all their courtships overpast with solemn negligence.
a1677 I. Barrow Serm. Several Occasions (1678) 31 He..cannot imagine God..pleased with..superficial courtships of ceremonious address.
6.
a.
(a) The action or process of paying court to a woman with a view to marriage; courting, wooing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > courtship or wooing > [noun]
wooingc1000
wouhlechec1230
wouhlechunga1250
love work?a1300
love-druryc1300
love playc1390
suitc1475
lovemakinga1500
loveshipc1500
suiting1568
courtship1600
courting1607
suitoringa1640
amouring1675
sparking1804
sprunting1823
lovering1848
twosing1940
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > seeking marriage > [noun] > seeking hand in marriage
wooingc1000
wouhlechec1230
wouhlechunga1250
suitc1475
suiting1568
courtship1600
courting1607
suitoringa1640
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice ii. viii. 44 Be merry, and imploy your cheefest thoughts to courtship, and such faire ostents of loue. View more context for this quotation
1677 T. D'Urfey Madam Fickle iv. 41 Follow me, and I'll place you, where you shall, unseen, hear all their Courtship.
1682 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) I. 236 Pretending court~ship, as is said, to the lady Ann.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 261. ¶3 The pleasantest Part of Man's Life is generally that which passes in Courtship.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby xiv. 123 A newly-married couple, who had visited Mr. and Mrs. Kenwigs in their courtship.
1867 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest I. v. 333 A like piece of vigorous courtship is..recorded of Æthelred's descendant.
(b) with a and plural.
ΚΠ
1713 R. Steele Englishman No. 9. 57 The Conversation of a Courtship is more pleasing than ordinary Discourse.
1893 N.E.D. at Courtship Mod. The comparative advantages of long and short courtships.
b. transferred of animals and plants.
ΚΠ
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth VI. 26 Every meadow and marsh resounds with their [sc. birds'] different calls, to courtship or to food.
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. i, in Poems 58 Not Darwin's self had more delight to sing Of floral courtship, in th' awaken'd spring.
1874 J. Sully Sensation & Intuition 7 Deep sexual emotion built up during the courtships of unnumbered species.
c. figurative.
ΚΠ
1656 A. Cowley Davideis ii. 47 in Poems Why does that twining plant the Oak embrace? The Oak for courtship most of all unfit.
1856 L. H. Grindon Life vii. 57 How does the plainest improve, as it blushes under the courtship of the summer breezes.
7. figurative. The action of courting, soliciting, or enticing; endeavour to win over or gain.
ΚΠ
1727 D. Defoe Syst. Magick i. iii. 88 The first attack the Devil made upon our Mother Eve, we have had fully described..Mr. Milton has given us the Particulars as distinctly..as if he had..heard the Courtship, and how cunningly the Devil managed.
1816 Ld. Byron Siege of Corinth xiii. 20 In vain from side to side he throws His form, in courtship of repose.
1824 Westm. Rev. 1 454 Wallachia and Turkish Moldavia are open to Austrian courtship.
8. attributive (chiefly sense 6b).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > courtship or wooing > [adjective]
courtship1801
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > seeking marriage > [adjective] > relating to courting or wooing
courtship1801
1801 Monthly Mirror Sept. 203 In the most unnatural court-ship scene with Lady Anne..I saw only the tyrant hatching plans.
1923 J. S. Huxley Ess. Biologist iv. 135 In a large number of birds..the courtship-displays are mutual.
1924 J. A. Thomson Sci. Old & New xxiii. 130 In the case of spiders, it appears highly probable that the courtship-dance serves to excite the interest and sex-instincts of the female.
1938 Brit. Birds 31 320 The courtship flight and trill is the chief form of courtship activity.
1948 Brit. Birds 41 127 Courtship-feeding of Scottish Crossbill.
1950 Oxf. Junior Encycl. IX. 235/1 Courtship Dances..developed out of the fertility rites... Often in such dances the man shows off before the lady by performing the most spectacular tricks.
1959 A. Hardy Fish & Fisheries i. 3 A male dragonet in courtship dress may flash with rainbow hues.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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