courtship

Etymology

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).

noun

1. (countable, uncountable) 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”).
   1. (obsolete) The ceremonial performance of acts of courtesy to a dignitary, etc.
   2. 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.
      Their courtship passed as something instantly forgotten, like an enchantment, or a mistake. 1968, John Updike, Couples (A Borzoi Book), New York, N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, →OCLC; republished as Couples, London, New York, N.Y.: Penguin Books, 2007
   3. (by extension) The behaviour exhibited by an animal to attract a mate.
   4. (figurative) The act of trying to solicit a favour or support from someone.
2. (countable, uncountable, obsolete) Elegance or propriety of manners fitting for a court; courtliness; (by extension) courteous or polite behaviour; courtesy.
3. (uncountable, obsolete) The pursuit of being a courtier, such as exercising diplomacy, finesse, etc.; also, the artifices and intrigues of a court; courtcraft.