curtsey

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women
  2. verb bend the knees in a gesture of respectful greeting

Etymology

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

In classic literature

Synonyms

curtsy

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