different between complaisant vs courteous

English

Etymology

From French complaisant (“willing to please”), from complaire, from Latin complac?re, present active infinitive of complace? (“please well”), from com- (“with”) + place? (“please”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /k?m?ple?s?nt/
• Homophone: complacent
• (US) IPA^(key): /k?m?ple?s?nt/, /k?m?ple?z?nt/

Adjective

complaisant (comparative more complaisant, superlative most complaisant)

1. Compliant.
2. Willing to do what pleases others; obliging.
3. (archaic) Polite; showing respect.

Usage notes

• Complaisant should not be confused with its homophone, complacent.

Derived terms

• complaisantly

Related terms

• complaisance

Translations

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k??.pl?.z??/

Verb

complaisant

1. present participle of complaire

Adjective

complaisant (feminine singular complaisante, masculine plural complaisants, feminine plural complaisantes)

1. complaisant, obliging, eager to please

Derived terms

• mari complaisant

Further reading

• “complaisant” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

From Old French curteis (French courtois), from cort (“court”), displaced native Old English hende (“courteous, gracious, friendly”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k?ti.?s/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k??ti.?s/

Adjective

courteous (comparative more courteous, superlative most courteous)

1. Showing regard or thought for others; especially, displaying good manners or etiquette.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:polite

   Antonyms: discourteous, uncourteous; see also Thesaurus:impolite

Derived terms

• courteously
• courteousness
• discourteous
• uncourteous

Translations

See also

• courtesy

Anagrams

• outsource