COURTEOUS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does courteous mean? 

• COURTEOUS (adjective)
  The adjective COURTEOUS has 2 senses:

1. exhibiting courtesy and politeness

2. characterized by courtesy and gracious good manners

  Familiarity information: COURTEOUS used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COURTEOUS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Exhibiting courtesy and politeness

Synonyms:

courteous; gracious; nice

Context example:

a nice gesture

Similar:

polite (showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Characterized by courtesy and gracious good manners

Context example:

if a man be gracious and courteous to strangers it shows he is a citizen of the world

Similar:

chivalrous; gallant; knightly (being attentive to women like an ideal knight)

Also:

respectful (full of or exhibiting respect)

Attribute:

courtesy; good manners (a courteous manner)

Antonym:

discourteous (showing no courtesy; rude)

 Context examples 

Mild Mrs. Dent talked with good-natured Mrs. Eshton; and the two sometimes bestowed a courteous word or smile on me.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

They were more than kind and courteous, and took us at once on board the Czarina Catherine, which lay at anchor out in the river harbour.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

His name was Pedro de Mendez; he was a very courteous and generous person.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

She had received ideas which disposed her to be courteous and kind to all, and to pity every one, as being less happy than herself.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

A courteous red-faced old gentleman represented the railway company.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The error is plain enough, said the less courteous Edmund; such girls are ill brought up.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

These gentlemen of Spain seem to be most courteous and worthy people.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

By nature inoffensive, friendly, and obliging, his presentation at St. James's had made him courteous.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

He rose with a very courteous air, and, bowing to us, he passed out through a door at the farther end of the room, which he closed behind him.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I exchanged some remarks with him, therefore, and obtained his courteous permission to write the short note which you afterwards received.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)