discourtesy

American  

[dis-kur-tuh-see] / dɪsˈkɜr tə si /

noun

plural

discourtesies

1. lack or breach of courtesy; incivility; rudeness.

2. a discourteous or impolite act.

---

discourtesy British  

/ dɪsˈkɜːtɪsɪ /

noun

1. bad manners; rudeness

2. a rude remark or act

---

Etymology

Origin of discourtesy

First recorded in 1545–55; dis- ¹ + courtesy

Explanation

Discourtesy is acting in a rude or thoughtless way. If you yell orders at your restaurant server and leave him a small tip, you're treating him with extreme discourtesy. The noun discourtesy is a formal way to say "rudeness" or "disrespect." Cutting in line, interrupting others, chewing with your mouth wide open, being late for an important meeting — these are all examples of discourtesy. Courtesy means "elegance of manners" or "politeness," from a root meaning "courtly manners." When you add the prefix dis-, "the opposite of," you get discourtesy.

Example Sentences

Discourtesy, Disinterest Sirs: I have just been reading the article in your issue dated April 20, relative to the so-called "Buchman Movement."

From Time Magazine Archive

Discourtesy is at once an evidence and a cause of immaturity.

From Time Magazine Archive

He said, “I’m busy greeting my friends,” and he nodded to Discourtesy and Ugliness and Unfilial Conduct and Unkempt Fingernails.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

"Discourtesy from you, Signor, would be impossible," rejoined the duke.

From The Exemplary Novels of Cervantes by Cervantes Saavedra, Miguel de

Discourtesy -- N. discourtesy; ill breeding; ill manners, bad manners, ungainly manners; insuavity†; uncourteousness†, &c. adj.; rusticity, inurbanity†; illiberality, incivility displacency†. disrespect &c.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark