different between courtesy vs suavity

English

Etymology

From Middle English curtesie, from Anglo-Norman curtesie, from Old French curteisie, cortoisie.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?k??t?si/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?k?t?si/
• Hyphenation: cour?te?sy

Noun

courtesy (countable and uncountable, plural courtesies)

1. (uncountable) Polite behavior.

2. (countable) A polite gesture or remark, especially as opposed to an obligation or standard practice.
3. (uncountable) Consent or agreement in spite of fact; indulgence.

4. (uncountable) Willingness or generosity in providing something needed.

   [on a label, caption, etc.] Courtesy the Smith Foundation: [e.g.] use of this image was allowed through the courtesy of the Smith Foundation.

5. A curtsey.
   • 1760, Oliver Goldsmith, The Citizen of the World

     The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony proceeds as usual.

6. (law) The life interest that the surviving husband has in the real or heritable estate of his wife.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

courtesy (third-person singular simple present courtesies, present participle courtesying, simple past and past participle courtesied)

1. Alternative form of curtsey
   • 1740, Samuel Richardson, Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded

     Well, but Polly attended, as I said; and there were strange simperings, and bowing, and courtesying, between them; the honest gentleman seeming not to know how to let his mistress wait upon him […]

Adjective

courtesy (not comparable) (used only before the noun)

1. Given or done as a polite gesture.

   We paid a courtesy visit to the new neighbors.

2. Supplied free of charge.

   Synonyms: complimentary, free of charge, gratis

   The event planners offered courtesy tickets for the reporters.

Translations

References

Anagrams

• cosurety, courtsey

English

Etymology

suave +? -ity, from Latin suavitas.

Noun

suavity (countable and uncountable, plural suavities)

1. The quality of being sweet or pleasing to the mind; agreeableness; pleasantness
   • 1881, Robert Louis Stevenson, Virginibus Puerisque:

     [...] nothing, not even the crude curves of the railway, can utterly deform the suavity of contour of one bay after another along the whole reach of the Riviera.

2. (obsolete) Sweetness to the taste.

See also

• suaveness
• blandness

References

• Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes