courtly

Etymology

From Middle English courtly, equivalent to court + -ly.

adj

1. Befitting of a royal court; reflecting the manners or behaviour of people at court.
   He swept off his hat and made a deep courtly bow.
   The troubadours sang songs about courtly love.
   […] you must give men of Quality leave to speak in a Language more Gentile and Courtly than the ordinary sort of mankind. 1682, Aphra Behn, “The Roundheads or, The Good Old Cause”, in et al., London: D. Brown, act III, scene 1, page 23
2. Of or relating to a royal court.
   She tried to remain aloof from courtly intrigues.
   in houres secure from courtly strife a. 1627, John Beaumont, “Horat. Lib. 2. Sat. 6.”, in Bosworth-Field with a Taste of the Variety of Other Poems, London: Henry Seile, page 40
   The rich are in general slaves to fear, and submit to courtly power with the trembling duplicity of a spaniel. 1776, Thomas Paine, Common Sense, Philadelphia, page 40
   He had for years held some clerical office appertaining to courtly matters, which had enabled him to live in London, 1857, Anthony Trollope, chapter 3, in Barchester Towers, volume 1, London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, page 30
3. (obsolete) Overly eager to please or obey.
   Here FLATT’RY, eldest born of guile, Weaves with rare skill the silken smile, The courtly cringe, the supple bow, The private squeeze, the Levee vow, 1763, Charles Churchill, “The Duellist”, in et al., London: G. Kearsly, Book 3, p. 29

adv

1. In the manner of a royal court; in a manner befitting of a royal court.
   Then will I deck thee Princely, instruct thee courtly, And present thee to the Queene as my gift. 1598, Robert Greene, The Scottish Historie of James the Fourth, London, act I, scene 1
   […] where, in the name of wonder, have you learn’d to talk so courtly? 1673, John Dryden, The Assignation, London: Henry Herringman, act II, scene 3, page 17
   1766, Elizabeth Griffith, The Double Mistake, London: J. Almon et al., Act I, Scene 3, p. 12, Very courtly and correctly spoken on all sides, my lord;
   The driver waited courtly by the open doors of the saloon. 1980, Anthony Burgess, chapter 74, in Earthly Powers, New York: Simon & Schuster, page 661