courtier

[kawr-tee-er, kohr-]

noun

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

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

Origin of courtier

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- -or²; suffix later conformed to -ier¹

Related formsun·der·cour·ti·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for courtiers

beau, attendant, flatterer, wooer

Examples from the Web for courtiers

Contemporary Examples of courtiers

But then the courtiers and her son Edward, the new King Edward VIII (himself a notoriously debauched figure), began cleaning up.
Queen Victoria’s Secret Scottish Sex Castle
Clive Irving
August 17, 2014
The courtiers were an effete and in some cases epicene crew.
Queen Victoria’s Secret Scottish Sex Castle
Clive Irving
August 17, 2014
Avoid war; don't trust flatterers, courtiers and ministers; and most importantly 'retrieve the glory of the Throne'.
How To Be a King, Circa 1749
Tom Sykes
February 27, 2014
More surprising still, the spirit addressed the courtiers by their real names.
How Queen Victoria's Affection For John Brown Sprang From His Contact With Dead Albert's Shade
Tom Sykes
June 13, 2013
Courtiers said it would have been impossible to complete the trip on scheduled services.
The Nine Juiciest Bits from The Royal Accounts
Tom Sykes
July 3, 2012

Historical Examples of courtiers

Like many of the courtiers, Mistress Fitton affected the society of the players.
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris
All the courtiers were amazed and confounded, and Sir Oliver the most of all.
Biographical Stories
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Several of the courtiers were following his example in the latter respect.
Camps, Quarters and Casual Places
Archibald Forbes
In the faces and behaviour of the courtiers, as in a glass, he saw reflected the truth.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
The King thought so too; so they sent five courtiers to ask her to the feast.
Boys and Girls Bookshelf (Vol 2 of 17)
Various

British Dictionary definitions for courtiers

courtier

noun

an attendant at a court

a person who seeks favour in an ingratiating manner

Word Origin for courtier

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for courtiers

courtier

early 13c., from Anglo-French *corteour, from Old French cortoiier "to be at court, live at court" (see court (n.)).