/curtsy/definition

/curtsy/ (or /curtsey/)

-) Verb.

-) Pronunciation and accent: kɜːtsɪ.

-) Etymology: from the noun CURTSY, which is a variant of COURTESY. This latter is from Old French corteis, from Old French cort (a court). 

-) Third-person singular simple present: she (he) curtsies (or curtseys).

-) Preterite tense, preterite participle: curtsied (or curtseyed).

-) Present participle: curtsying (or curtseying).

-) Intransitively: to make a curtsy; this is, to gesture one’s respect or salutation to someone either by bending one’s knees or by stooping.

-) Translation: s’incliner courtoisement, in French; inclinarse cortésmente, in Spanish; inchinarsi cortesemente, in Italian.

'I'm sure you'll excuse me, sir,' said Mrs Varden, rising and curtseying.

Dickens… Barnaby Rudge… 1841

Her gentle ringing at the bell was responded to by a […] woman […] who curtseyed at sight of her, and conducted her across the garden to the house.

Dickens… Dombey and son… 1848

-) The connotation either of bending one’s knees or of stooping is reinforced by means of an adverb, as “low”, or by a prepositional construction; as, “to the ground”, etc.:

Miss Sharpe curtseyed very low as she left the room, and Miss Martinett again rang the bell.

Azel Roe… A long look ahead… 1855

 “What ails ye at my face, fair sir?” she inquired, curtseying to the very ground.

Stevenson… The Black Arrow… 1888

-) With the preposition “to” + noun of the person who is the object of the curtsey:

… he addressed Camilla, to whom he said something not very distinctly, about Tunbridge, she curtsied to him slightly, and turned away, without making any answer.

Fanny Burney… Camilla… 1796

The two women curtsied to each other, each according to her fashion.

Thackeray… Pendennis… 1850

[Mrs Transome] liked to insist that work done without her orders should be undone from beginning to end. She liked to be curtsied and bowed to by all the congregation.

G. Eliot… Felix Holt… 1866

Honoria curtseyed to her benefactor, and left the room in silence.

Braddon… Run to Earth… 1869

In this little England of ours, who could fancy two stout men curtseying to each other?

De Quincey… The Uncollected Writings… 1890

I bowed low, and she curtsied to me. "Good-night," she said.

Mary Johnston… To Have and to Hold… 1899

-) It occurs in exceptional constructions where an adverbial extension seems to add a simultaneous action or immediate result (the one of leaving, going, or the like) to the principal one of curtsying:

… as Adams and the rest had assured her of forgiveness, she cried and curtsied out of the room.

Fielding… Joseph Andrews… 1742

Peggotty, with some uneasy glances at me, curtseyed herself out of the room without replying.

Dickens… Copperfield… 1850

He again asked me in, and again I assured him I knew not any body was there when I opened the door, and curtsied myself into my own room.

Frances Burney… Diary… 1854

-) Transitively: -) 1. To make a curtsy to (someone = direct object); to gesture one’s respect or salutation to (someone) either by bending one’s knees or by stooping.

Regarding herself as having now delivered her inauguration address, Mrs Gamp curtseyed all round, and signified her wish to be conducted to the scene of her official duties.

Dickens… Chuzzlewit… 1844

[Judith] curtseyed him from the door.

Riddell… The rich husband… 1858

-) It occurs in exceptional constructions where a prepositional extension seems to add a simultaneous action or immediate result (the one of accompanying, conducting, escorting, or the like) to the principal one of curtsying:

Madame de Choisy instantly began some compliments, but finding she only disconcerted me, she soon said she must not keep me back, and curtsied me on to another room, into which she shut me.

Frances Burney… Madame D'Arblay… 1842

The women curtseyed me to the door, as if they rather regretted the loss of their companion...

Croly… Marston… 1844

… he allowed himself to be curtseyed out of the room as quietly as if the young lady had been doing the honours of Petersham Manor at a morning call.

Folkestone… Maids of honour… 1845

Lady Glastonbury […], anticipated much pleasure from the act of curtseying out from the castle the venerable spinsters who, seven years before, had rendered her own exit so humiliating.

Catherine France… The Diamond… 1849

In this manner was Mr Slope received. But when he left, he was allowed by each lady to take her hand, and to make his adieux as gentlemen do who have been graciously entertained! Yes; he shook hands with them, and was curtseyed out courteously…

Trollope… Barchester Towers… 1857

-) 2. To gesture (something) by curtsying; to signify gesturally (something, as thanks, acceptance, etc.) to some one while curtsying to him (her).

“… perhaps you will dine with me? I mean to call on Miss Dorothy Somerset, and would invite her to be of the party.”

Lady Sara curtseyed her acceptance of the invitation.

Jane Porter… Thaddeus of Warsaw… 1803

When the door was opened she rather curtseyed her thanks than spoke them.

Knowles… Fortescue… 1847

… Kate Dalton rose and retired to her room. “Tell Madame de Heidendorf, Nina,” said she, “that I feel tired to-day, and beg she will excuse my not appearing at dinner.”

Nina curtseyed her obedience…

Lever… The Daltons… 1852

Tib curtseyed her thanks and prepared to go.

The living age… 1858

-) English words related etimologically to court: courteous, courteously, courteousness, courter, court (verb), courtesan, courtesanism, courtesanship, courtesy, courtier, courtierism, courtierly, courtiership, courting, courtlet, courtlike, courtliness, courtling, courtly (adv., adj.), courtship, uncourteous, uncourted, uncourteously, uncourteousness, uncourtierlike, uncourting, uncourtlike, uncourtliness, uncourtly, discourtesy, discourteousness, discourteously, discourteous, cohort, courtsying (noun, participial adj.)