Courtiers were noblemen and women who spent a lot of time at the court of a king or queen.
Synonyms: attendant, follower, squire, pursuivant [archaic] More Synonyms of courtier
courtier in British English
(ˈkɔːtɪə)
noun
1.
an attendant at a court
2.
a person who seeks favour in an ingratiating manner
Word origin
C13: from Anglo-French courteour (unattested), from Old French corteier to attend at court
courtier in American English
(ˈkɔrtiər; ˈkɔrtjər)
noun
1.
an attendant at a royal court
2.
a person who uses flattery to get something or to win favor
Word origin
ME curteour < OFr cortoier, to frequent the court < court, cort, court
Examples of 'courtier' in a sentence
courtier
His courtiers say he enjoys this one greatly and always reads right to the end.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
His last list handed out so many favours to courtiers that it diminished his reputation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The privy council originally consisted of senior courtiers who advised the sovereign.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
When the emperor made a progress through the city the ambassador saw none of the richly dressed soldiers and courtiers he had been led to expect.
Jonathan Wright Ambassadors: From Ancient Greece to the Nation State (2006)
Hatton Garden takes its name from an Elizabethan courtier who owned former church lands there.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In Tonga, he hangs out with courtiers and the king.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Other senior courtiers thought him'not naturally a likeable man '.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
At this point, you might think, some courtiers would tell the emperor that he had no clothes.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Partly, it seems to have been growing impatience on the part of senior courtiers close to the Thai throne.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
One senior courtier told me: 'If we had a master plan for the year this has exceeded all expectations.
The Sun (2006)
Early on in her illness, he stunned Japan by appearing to condemn senior courtiers for their lack of sympathy for her.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But Her Majesty was determined to show solidarity with a nation struggling with hardship and called it off after consulting senior courtiers.
The Sun (2010)
Is there some faded parchment in an archive somewhere which says that courtiers in the 16th Century only discussed important matters while pacing swiftly?
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
courtier
British English: courtier NOUN
Courtiers were noblemen and women who spent a lot of time at the court of a king or queen.