Courtier Meaning
/ˈkɔɹtiɚ/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA person in attendance at a royal court.
nounA person who flatters in order to seek favour.
Sentence Examples
The courtier was enjoying great royal favor.
If only they sent another courtier.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ bowed low before the king and presented the scroll.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ was enjoying great royal favor.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English courteour, from Anglo-Norman corteour, Old French cortoiier, from cort (“court”). By surface analysis, court + -ier.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"By the Lord, Horatio, this three years I have taken note of it, the age is grown so picked that the toe of the peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier he galls his kibe."
— c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
"People shouted cheerfully and flinched, but the Prime Minister didn't flinch, she fortified her voice with a firm diapason as if rising to the challenge of a rowdy Chamber. Around her her courtiers started like pheasants."
— 2004, Alan Hollinghurst, chapter 12, in The Line of Beauty […], London: Picador, →ISBN:
"The world’s richest person, not known for his humility, is still learning the cutthroat courtier politics of Donald Trump’s inner circle — and his ultimate influence remains an open question."
— 2024 November 22, Theodore Schleifer, “Elon Musk Gets a Crash Course in How Trumpworld Works”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ bowed low before the king and presented the scroll.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ was enjoying great royal favor.