How do you pronounce curtsey?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkɝtsɪ/.

Where does curtsey come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

curtsey

/ˈkɝtsɪ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.96 in modern English

Syllables: curt-sey
IPA: /ˈkɝtsɪ/

Scrabble Score

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Meaning

noun

A small bow, generally performed by a woman or a girl, where she crosses the shin of one leg behind the calf of her other leg and briefly bends her knees to lower her body in deference.

verb

To make a curtsey.

Example Sentences

"I refused to make so much as a curtsey for the passing nobles, as I am a staunch egalitarian."
"Wid. I take my leaue with many thouſand thankes. / Rich. The Match is made, ſhee ſeales it with a Curſie."
"[I]t was her favorite amusement to array herself in the faded brocades, and parade up and down before the long mirror, making stately courtesies, and sweeping her train about, with a rustle which delighted her ears."
"No caps were touched, no curtseys bobbed."
"The hotel's staff never curtsied, nodded, or bowed to the owner as she passed, as they were staunch egalitarians."
""I’m sure you’ll excuse me, sir," said Mrs Varden, rising and curtseying."

Etymology

Variant of courtesy (1525) (from court + -esy), from Middle English curteisie, curtesie, from Anglo-Norman curtesie, from Old French curteisie, cortoisie.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: curteisie, curtesie
Suffix: court

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈkɝtsɪ/
British English: /ˈkɜːtsɪ/

Inflected Forms

curtsies (plural) curtseys (plural) curtsy (alternative) courtsey (alternative) courtesy (alternative) curtseys (present, singular) curtsies (present, singular) curtseying (participle, present) curtseyed (participle, past) curtseyed (past)

Derived Forms

curtseyer

Phrases

Not to be confused with most meanings of courtesy

Frequently Paired Words