courtier

[kawr-tee-er, kohr-]

noun

1. a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage.

2. a person who seeks favor by flattery, charm, etc.

courtier

/ ˈkɔːtɪə /

noun

1. an attendant at a court

2. a person who seeks favour in an ingratiating manner

Other Word Forms

• undercourtier noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of courtier¹

1250–1300; Middle English courteour < Anglo-French courte ( i ) our, equivalent to Old French cortoy ( er ) to attend at court (derivative of court court ) + Anglo-French -our < Latin -ōr- -or ²; suffix later conformed to -ier ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of courtier¹

C13: from Anglo-French courteour (unattested), from Old French corteier to attend at court

Example Sentences

So in the end, courtiers used an obscure workaround.

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The dashing former helicopter pilot was widely considered his mother’s favorite son and courtiers said Queen Elizabeth II didn’t want to take steps to fully humiliate him.

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The faux meat impresses the courtiers, who note the effort required for the dish.

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"There has been a large amount of government pressure to make this massive and that's been the challenge," one courtier told me.

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At least imperial courtiers trust in strict codes about curtsies and proper titles.

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