courtship

CEFRB2

/ˈkɔːt.ʃɪp/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    The period when two people develop a romantic relationship before marriage.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    The act of paying court, that is, demonstrating such politeness and respect as is traditionally given at a court (“a formal assembly of a sovereign's retinue”).

Examples

  • Their whirlwind courtship quickly led to marriage.

  • Traditionally, men were expected to take the lead in courtship.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
4

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. The act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage; hence, the period during which a couple fall in love before their marriage.

  2. The ceremonial performance of acts of courtesy to a dignitary, etc.

  3. The behaviour exhibited by an animal to attract a mate.

More examples

In context

  • Our ſelfe and Buſhie, / Obſerued his courtſhip to the common people, / How he did ſeeme to diue into their harts, / With humble and familiar courteſie, / What reuerence he did throw away on ſlaues, [...]

  • Be merry, and employ your cheefeſt thoughts / To Courtſhip, and ſuch faire oſtents of loue, / As ſhall conueniently become you there.

  • King. How Madame? Ruſsians? / Quee[n]. I [i.e., ay] in trueth My Lord. / Trim gallants, full of Courtſhip and of ſtate.

Synonyms

Quick test

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Their long blank ended with a proposal under the oak tree.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From court (“demonstration of such respect as is traditionally given at court; attention directed to a person in power; behaviour designed to gain favour; politeness of manner; civility towards someone”) + -ship (suffix forming nouns indicating a property or state of being).