▪ I. court, n.1
(kɔət)
Forms: 2–4 curt, 3 kurt, (4 courete, curth), 4–5 kourt(t, 4–6 curte, cort(e, 4–7 courte, (5 courtte, cowrtt, cowurt, kourtt, 5–6 cowrte, 6 cortte), 3– court.
[Early ME. curt, court, a. OF. cort, curt, later court (from 15th c. cour) = Pr. cort, Sp. and It. corte:—L. cohort-em, cōrt-em (nom. cohors, cors, in med.L. cortis, curtis) court, poultry-yard, yard, enclosure, also company of soldiers (cohort), crowd of attendants, retinue. At an early date the French word appears to have been associated with L. cūria (which has not itself survived in Romanic), and hence apparently the series of senses under branches III and IV, in which cūria is the regular med.L. equivalent.]
I. An enclosed area, a yard.
1. a. A clear space enclosed by walls or surrounded by buildings; a yard, a court-yard; e.g. that surrounding a castle, or that left for the sake of light, etc. in the centre of a large building or mass of buildings; formerly also a farm-yard, poultry-yard. At Cambridge, the usual name for a college quadrangle.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 9934 (Cott.) Þat castel brightnes sua vngnede Oueral þat curt on lenght and brede. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xv. 466 Riȝt as capones in a court cometh to mennes whistlynge. 1535 Coverdale 2 Sam. xvii. 18 They..came to a mans house at Bahurim, which had a well in his courte. 1542 Boorde Dyetary 238 Than deuyde the lodgynges by the cyrcuyte of the quadryuyall courte. 1555 Eden Decades 259 There are..in the castell..three very large courtes in the which the noble men of the courte haue theyr lodgynges. 1611 Bible Esther v. 1 Esther..stood in the inner court of the kings house. 1625 Bacon Ess. Building (Arb.) 550 And in all the foure Corners of that Court, Faire Staire Cases. 1724 De Foe Mem. Cavalier (1840) 78 The king came down into the castle court. 1789 P. Smyth tr. Aldrich's Archit. (1818) 147 Through the entrance you go into the great court. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xvii, The jolly train halted before the door of Sir John Ramorny's house, which a small court divided from the street. 1862 Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. iv. 75 Round the cloisters of the vast courts into which these gateways opened were spacious mansions. |
b. Each of the uncovered enclosures surrounding the Jewish tabernacle, and constituting the temple area round the fane or sanctuary on Mount Moriah. [
Vulg. atrium.]
| 1535 Coverdale Ps. lxiv. 4 Blessed is the man whom thou chosest..that he may dwell in thy courte. 1611 Bible Ex. xxvii. 12 And for the breadth of the Court, on the West⁓side shalbe hangings of fifty cubits. ― Ps. lxxxiv. 2 My soule longeth, yea euen fainteth for the courts of the Lord. |
| fig. 1619 W. Whately Gods Husb. i. 32 The true Christian..hath farre more to doe in the inward roomes of his soule, than in the outer court of his conuersation. 1874 Morley Compromise (1886) 50 Those who unfortunately have to sit in the darkness of the outer court. |
c. A section or subdivision of the area of an exhibition building, a museum, or the like, open above (to the general roof), and usually devoted to the products of a particular country, or department of science, art, or industry.
This application of the word appears to have originated in the structure of the building in Hyde Park for the Great Exhibition of 1851. The rows of pillars supporting the roof, which crossed each other at right angles, divided the central area into a number of rectangular sections; these being themselves open to the lofty roof, while bordered on two sides by galleries supported by the pillars, suggested courts within buildings, and soon received the name; the term was further extended in the Crystal Palace at Sydenham (as in the Alhambra, Egyptian, Pompeian, and Renaissance Courts), and in later exhibitions has been used with still greater extension; it has also been, with more closeness to the original notion, applied to the central open area of a museum, surrounded by its arcades and galleries.
| 1851 Illust. Lond. News 3 May 364/1 The very nature of the construction of the building suggests its subdivision into courts; and this is distinctly illustrated in the plan of the gallery..there are four of these large courts, and two smaller ones, parallel with the transept in each of these western divisions of the Building..from the gallery these courts form a most interesting feature in the arrangements. Ibid. 31 May 494 The Tunis Court. Ibid. 495 The Canadian Court..The Building Court. 1854 (title) The Ten Chief Courts of the Sydenham Palace. 1862 Illust. Lond. News XL. 315/1 (International Exhib.) The French Court will be the largest..section of the foreign department in the whole building. 1886 Guide to Colonial & Ind. Exhib. 21 The Court devoted to Tea, Coffee, and Tobacco is filled with the largest assortment of specimens ever got together. 1891 Kelly's Direct. Oxfordsh. 697/2 The Oxford University Museum..The main entrance..leading into a large lobby and thence into the great Court, which has a glass roof supported by iron columns and arches..the court is surrounded by an open arcade of two storeys. |
† 2. a. A large building or set of buildings standing in a court-yard; a large house or castle. In early times applied to a manorial house;
= bury.
Obs.| 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 385 Hii by gonne hem to sprede, And robby aboute & berne, & courtes adoun caste. Ibid. 546 Curt Lincolne & Berkele, & other courtes also, Were aboute in the lond tho a fure ido. c 1300 Havelok 1685 His wif he dide with him lede, Vn-to þe heye curt [Ubbe's castle] he yede. c 1320 Sir Beues 334 Toward is kourt [v.r. hous] he [Sir Saber] him kende. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiii. 23 Conscience..bad me come to his courte, with clergye sholde I dyne. 1598 Stow Surv. xxxiii. (1603) 294 The name of Aldermans burie (which is to say a Court) there kept in their Bery or Court-hall. 1847–78 Halliwell, Court, the principal house in a village. 1887 Parish & Shaw Kentish Dial. (E.D.S.), Court, or Court lodge, the manor house, where the court leet of the manor is held. |
b. Often in proper names of English manor-houses,
e.g. Hampton Court,
Tottenham Court.
| a 1529 Skelton Why not to Court 401 To whyche court? To the kynges courte, Or to Hampton Court? c 1630 Risdon Surv. Devon (1714) II. 89 This Nutwell Court (which signifies a Mansion-house in a Seigniory). 1737 Pope Hor. Epist. ii. ii. 232 Delightful Abs-court, if its fields afford Their fruits to you, confesses you its lord. 1842 Tennyson Audley Court 3 Let us picnic there At Audley Court. |
3. In a town: A confined yard or more or less quadrangular space opening off a street, and built around with houses; ‘a small opening inclosed with houses and paved with broad stones, distinguished from a street’ (J.).
In towns, usually tenanted by the poor, except where, as in the City of London, they have been converted into business offices,
e.g. Copthall Court,
Hatton Court (Threadneedle Street), and the like.
| 1687 Lond. Gaz. No. 2298/3 He liv'd in Drury-lane in King's-Head-Court. 1799 tr. Meister's Lett. Eng. 178 Lanes and Courts [in London] are passages through which no carriage can pass, and, therefore, they are commonly paved in the same manner as the footways. 1838 Lytton Leila i. v, He..continued his way with rapid strides, through various courts and alleys. 1847 Alb. Smith Chr. Tadpole xix. (1879) 177 The shop..was situated in a little narrow court. 1885 L'pool Daily Post 30 June 4/6 A city-bred child, brought up in narrow, dingy streets and courts. |
4. An enclosed quadrangular area, uncovered or covered, with a smooth level floor, in which tennis, rackets, or fives are played; the plot of ground marked out for lawn-tennis; also applied to each of the quadrangular divisions marked on such grounds. (See
tennis-court, etc.)
| 1519 in Lett. & Papers Hen. VIII (Brewer) III. 11, The tennis court at Richmond. 1587 Holinshed Chron. 545 He would tosse him som London balles that perchance would shake the walles of the best court in France. 1599 Shakes. Hen. V, i. ii. 265 Tell him, he hath made a match with such a Wrangler, That all the Courts of France will be disturb'd With Chaces. 1684 R. H. School Recreat. 84 Tennis..is a Pastime, used in close or open Courts, by striking a little Round Ball to and fro..with..a Racket. 1878 J. Marshall Ann. Tennis 115 In order to understand the game of Tennis, one should first of all become acquainted with the arena, or Court, in which it is played. Ibid. 117 The area enclosed between the lines x and p, and the walls, may be called the service-court; and the area enclosed between x, p, h, and the main wall, the pass-court. |
II. A princely residence, household, retinue.
5. The place where a sovereign (or other high dignitary) resides and holds state, attended by his retinue.
This sense is said to have arisen in Old French, the name
curt being applied to the residences of the early Frankish kings on their rural domains: see Littré, and
cf. sense 2. But the actual history is involved in obscurity from the paucity of early evidence.
| a 1175 Lofsong in Cott. Hom. 231 An rice king..wolde..ȝeclepien all his under-þeod þat hi..to his curt [berie] come sceolde. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. viii. 15 Þei..knowen contrees and courtes and many kynnes places. c 1386 Chaucer Knt.'s T. 646 He..Is riden in to the feeldes hym to pleye Out of the court were it a myle or tweye. 1480 Caxton Descr. Eng. 17 The messagers of Rome came to the grete Arthurs court. 1534 Tindale Luke vii. 25 They which are gorgeously apparelled and lyue delicatly are in kynges courtes. 1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. i. iii. 43 Mistris, dispatch you with your safest haste, And get you from our Court. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 497 In Courts and Palaces he also Reigns And in luxurious Cities. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 509 The quarters of William now began to present the appearance of a court. |
6. a. The establishment and surroundings of a sovereign with his councillors and retinue.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 210 Auh heo lebbeð to þe ueonde, & beoð alle ine his hirde, & serueð him ine his kurt. 1340 Ayenb. 256 Ac ulatours and lyeȝeres byeþ to grat cheap ine hare cort. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) vi. 18 Þe maner of his [the Soudan's] courte schold I wele ynogh ken. 1598 Shakes. Merry W. ii. ii 62 When the Court lay at Windsor. 1665 Boyle Occas. Refl. v. v. (1675) 316 It will..be imitated by all those on whom the Court has Influence. 1704 Addison Italy 9 Pictures of the reigning Beauties of the Court of France. 1830 D'Israeli Chas. I, III. vi. 93 Charles appears to have designed that his Court should resemble the literary Court of the Medici. 1851 Tennyson To the Queen 25 May children of our children say..‘Her court was pure’. |
b. without article or other defining word (
at court,
to court, etc.), primarily meaning the place, but including the persons and proceedings.
Cf. at church,
council,
school, etc.
| c 1300 Beket 165 He com to court and was in god offiz With the Archebischop of Canterbury. c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 140 And peyned hire to countrefete cheere Of court, and been estatlich of manere. c 1400 Destr. Troy 11527 All the councell fro kourtt was clenely depertid. a 1529 Skelton (title), Why come ye nat to Courte? 1611 Shakes. Cymb. iii. iv. 129 You shall be mist at Court. a 1704 T. Brown Eng. Sat. Wks. 1730 I. 29 His writings..had the air of Court. 1759 Johnson Idler No. 64 ¶3, I appeared at court on all publick days. 1859 Tennyson Elaine 1118, I go in state to court, to meet the Queen. |
c. the Court: as an institution.
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 264/4 She norysshed them more for desert than for the courte. a 1616 Beaum. & Fl. Cust. Country ii. i, The court's a school, indeed, in which some few Learn virtuous principles. 1707 Curios. in Husb. & Gard. 22 Every one is tir'd with being here, but the Court enervates our Resolution. 1805 Scott Last Minstr. iii. ii, Love rules the court, the camp, the grove. |
d. ellipt. A court shoe. Also
attrib.| 1903 in S. Nowell-Smith Edwardian Eng. (1964) iv. plate xviii (b), Ditto in Court Shape 8/9. 1959 Vogue Pattern Bk. June–July 14 Accessory suggestions..Lotus calf courts. |
7. a. The body of courtiers collectively; the retinue (councillors, attendants, etc.) of a sovereign or high dignitary. (Construed as plural.)
| a 1300 Cursor M. 5244 (Cott.) Ioseph of his fader herd, Wit his curt gain him he ferd. a 1400–50 Alexander 981 A crie þat all þe curte kniȝtis and erles Suld put þaim in-to presens his precep to here. 1481 Caxton Reynard i. (Arb.) 5 Whan the kynge of alle beestis had assemblid alle his court. 1600 Disc. Gourie Conspir. in Moyses Mem. (1755) 266 All the huntsmen..attending his majestie on the green, and the court making to their horses. 1774 Goldsm. Nat. Hist. (1776) VII. 198 In the presence of the Great Duke of Tuscany and his court. 1859 Thackeray Virgin. xxii, If the king and the whole court are standing by! 1859 Tennyson Guinevere 21 One morn when all the court, Green-suited..Had been, their wont, a-maying. |
† b. An escort.
Obs.| c 1470 Henry Wallace i. 381 Part of the court had Wallace labour seyne. Ibid. iv. 22 Wallace sum part befor the court furth raid. |
8. a. The sovereign with his ministers and councillors as the ruling power of a state, or in international relations. (Construed as singular.)
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 163 In Chambre whom the court avaunceth. 1651 Sir E. Nicholas in N. Papers (Camden) 234 To give you some pertinent notice of the affaires of the French court. 1841 Elphinstone Hist. Ind. II. 641 An assignment granted to him by the court of Delhi. 1848 W. K. Kelly tr. L. Blanc's Hist. Ten Y. II. 622 The two cabinets whose union had caused the northern courts so much uneasiness. Mod. Accredited as ambassador to the Court of St. James's. |
b. Court of Rome: the papal Curia.
| c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 25/50 Þe erende þat huy brouȝten fram þe court of Rome. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 1 He wente vnto þe courte of Rome, For to tak his penance. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 12 In þe court of Rome mai no man geyt no grace, but if it be bowt. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, ii. ii. 105 The Court of Rome commanding. |
III. An assembly held by the sovereign.
9. A formal assembly held by the sovereign at his residence: in early times, of his councillors and great lords, for purposes of administration; in later times to give state receptions, audience to ambassadors, and the like. The early use has given rise to the ‘high court of parliament’ (sense 10), and ‘the king's courts’ of justice (sense 11); the modern use is naturally associated with senses 6, 7, as in
to be presented at court.
| 1154 O.E. Chron. (Laud MS.), And [Henri] held þær [in Lundene] micel curt. [The regular phrase said of earlier kings was ‘heold his hired’: cf. 1085, 1091, 1106, 1110.] 1700 Dryden Cymon & Iphig. 42 In that sweet isle where Venus keeps her court. 1831 Sir J. Sinclair Corr. II. 331 At Berlin, the Court was only held on Sundays. 1859 Tennyson Geraint & Enid 146 For Arthur on the Whitsuntide before Held court at old Caerleon upon Usk. 1879 C. M. Yonge Cameos Ser. iv. ix. 109 He..journeyed to York, and held court there for a week. |
IV. A court of judicature, of law, or of administration.
10. Applied to Parliament.
Cf. Sp. Cortes.
| 1450 Impeachm. Dk. Suffolk in Paston Lett. No. 76 I. 105 We..pray that this be enacte in this your High Courte of Parlement. 1597 Shakes. 2 Hen IV, v. ii. 134 Now call we our High Court of Parliament, And let vs choose such Limbes of Noble Counsaile. a 1600 Hooker Eccl. Pol. viii. vi. §10 Parliament being a mere temporal court. 1662 Bk. Com. Prayer, A Prayer for the High Court of Parliament, to be read during their Session. |
11. a. An assembly of judges or other persons legally appointed and acting as a tribunal to hear and determine any cause, civil, ecclesiastical, military, or naval.
Justice was in early times administered in assemblies held by the sovereign personally (sense 9), then by judges who followed the king as officers of his court; hence the title the
King's Courts (
curia regis).
In this sense more fully defined as
court of law,
law-court,
court of justice,
court of judicature. These are distinguished as
superior or
inferior, according to their respective rank, the highest court of a country or state being called the
Supreme Court.
court of first instance: a court in which a matter must first be tried, as distinguished from a
court of appeal, to which it may subsequently be carried.
court of record: see
quot. 1765.
| [1292 Britton i. i. §1 En dreit de nous mesures et de nostre Curt. Ibid. §11 Sauve les Justices qi suivent nous en nostre Court.] 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 471 The king wolde, that in is court the ple solde be driue. c 1300 Beket 606 That he scholde fram thulke curt biclipie to the kynge. c 1320 Cast. Love 239 In þe kynges court ȝit vche day Me vseþ þulke selue lay. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1725) 173 Þe courte opon him sat, þe quest filed him & schent. 1490 Plumpton Corr. 91 The serch and the copy of the wrytts, out of one cort to another costeth much money. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 243, I do beseech the Court To giue the iudgement. Ibid. 338 He hath refus'd it in the open Court. 1637 Decree Star Chamb. in Milton's Areop. (Arb.) 8 The Court hath now also ordered, That the said Decree shall speedily be Printed. 1641 Termes de la Ley 94 b, The greater part are Courts of record, some are not, and therfore accounted base Courts in comparison of the others. c 1670 Hobbes Dial. Com. Laws (1840) 25 A court of justice is that which hath cognizance of such causes as are to be ended by the positive laws of the land. 1765 Blackstone Comm. I. 257 He [the king] therefore has alone the right of erecting courts of judicature. Ibid. III. 24 A court of record is that where the acts and judicial proceedings are enrolled in parchment for a perpetual memorial and testimony. 1809 Tomlins Law Dict. s.v. Pleading i. §2 This would often embarrass the jury, and sometimes the Court itself. 1864 Spectator No. 1875. 641 This new Court is to be in ecclesiastical matters a Court of first instance. 1879 Froude Cæsar x. 110 The courts of the Equites..were to be composed two-thirds of knights and one-third only of senators. 1886 Morley Pop. Culture Crit. Misc. III. 16 In crimes and contracts, and the other business of courts of law. 1888 Bryce Amer. Commw. xlii. init., The Judiciary in every State includes three sets of courts:—A supreme court or court of appeal; superior courts of record; local courts. |
b. With many specific qualifications indicating the sphere, business, or constitution of the court, as
base,
burgh,
circuit,
county,
criminal,
customary,
forest,
hundred,
insolvent,
manorial,
police,
sheriff, etc.:
C. of admiralty,
arches, attachments,
augmentation,
chancery,
chivalry,
Common Pleas,
equity,
guestling,
High commission,
justiciary,
King's or
Queen's bench,
lodemanage,
piepowder,
probate,
session,
stannary, teinds,
trailbaston, wards, etc., for which see these words.
c. Court of Claims: a court in which claims are adjudicated on; in
U.S. a court sitting at Washington for the investigation of claims against the government; also, in some States, a county-court charged with the financial business of the county.
Court of Conscience or
of Requests: a small debt court;
court of conscience (
fig.), conscience as a moral tribunal.
| 1603 Dekker Grissil (Shaks. Soc.) 17 Signor Emulo has warn'd my master to the court of conscience. 1680 Dryden Prol. Lee's Cæsar Borgia 23 One theatre there is of vast resort, Which whilome of Requests was called the Court. 1689 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) I. 563 An act for erecting a court of conscience at Newcastle upon Tine. 1691 Ibid. II. 314 Many Irish were come to Dublin..to demand their estates, which were restored..a court of claimes will be sett up there to decide such matters. 1798 W. Hutton Autobiog. 123 Courts of Requests or Courts of Conscience, for the recovery of small debts, were first established in the reign of Henry VIII., and they now exist under local Acts, in many populous places. 1882 W. Ballantine Exper. ii. 24 Here and there in the metropolis were dotted small debts courts..called Courts of Request. |
d. court of love: an institution said to have existed in southern France in the Middle Ages, a tribunal composed of lords and ladies deciding questions of love and gallantry; such an institution in medieval literature.
| c 1530 Crt. of Love (1897) 410 Commaunding me the Court of Love to see.., There Citherea goddesse was and quene. 1840 R. Browning Sordello ii. 47 Eglamor whose lay Concludes his patron's Court of Love to-day. 1877 C. M. Yonge Womankind xxi. 161 The courts of love in Provence were to decide on the cases of fantastic adoration between knights and ladies. 1933 R. Tuve Seasons & Months iv. 170 The chariot of Phebus the sun..remained as mere learned decoration in Scottish court-of-love poems. 1964 F. White West of Rhone v. 69 At Bordeaux..great ladies held Courts of Love at which they awarded prizes to the troubadours who sang the sweetest songs. |
12. a. The place, hall, or chamber in which justice is judicially administered.
(In many phrases senses 11 and 12 are blended;
cf. b.)
| [a 1300 Cursor M. 21435 (Cott.) Bath to þe quenes curt þai com, Þe Iuu thrali badd giue him dom.] Ibid. 19139 (Edin.) Þai gaderit oute baþe prince and priste, and set þaim in þat curte imide. 1481 Caxton Reynard xiii. (Arb.) 29 Reynart..wente forth proudly with his neueu thurgh the hyest street of the courte. 1530 Palsgr. 210/1 Court where men plede, avditoir. 1596 Shakes. Merch. V. iv. i. 14 Go one and cal the Iew into the Court. 1628 Coke On Litt. 58 a, Court is a place where Iustice is iudicially ministred. 1862 Trollope Orley F. xiv. 117 But won't she have to go and sit in the court,—with all the people staring at her? 1892 Pall Mall G. 5 Feb. 6/1 The Master of the Rolls: What is a court? This remarkably ugly room is called a court, but it is not the ugly room that is a court. It is a court because we sit in it. |
b. without article or other defining word (
in court,
into court,
out of court, etc.), including place and proceedings. Also in phrases, as
† men of court (
= men of law),
† attorneys of court,
Inns of Court.
| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 398 Tu schalt, þu motild, to curt cumen seoðen. a 1300 Cursor M. 9478 (Cott.) Þis es bot lagh..Vsed in curth þis ilk dai. c 1325 E.E. Allit. P. A. 700 To corte quen þou schal com, Þer alle oure causez schal be tryed. 1399 Pol. Poems (1859) I. 409 They cared ffor no coyffes That men of court usyn. 1474 Caxton Chesse 79 Men of lawe and attorneyes of court. 1556 Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden) 17 This yere was a grete debate arose betwene Flet strete and the howsys of corte. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. iii. ii. 10 It is his Highnesse pleasure, that the Queene Appeare in person, here in Court. 1713 Pope Frenzy of J. D., Producing further proofs of this truth in open court. 1883 Sir E. Fry in Law Rep. 11 Q. Bench Div. 596 A barrister may be..reprimanded by the judge if he misconducts himself in court. Mod. The case had been already settled out of court. |
c. Phr.
out of court: said of a plaintiff who has forfeited his claim to be heard; now mostly
fig. of arguments having no claim to consideration; in extended
fig. use, of any thing or person that has no claim to be regarded or considered.
| 1846 Mill Logic iii. xx. §2 The argument of analogy is put out of court. 1848 Wharton Law Lex., Out of Court, a plaintiff in an action at common law must declare within one year after the service of a writ of summons, otherwise he is out of court. 1855 Bright Sp., Russia 7 June, These gentlemen are almost, if not altogether, out of court. 1885 J. Bonar Malthus ii. i. 252 Though there is much truth still in many of his statements, the conclusion he draws from them..is quite out of court now. 1907 J. R. Illingworth Doctr. Trinity iii. 47 When Christian apologists with mistaken courtesy allow the Fourth Gospel to be put out of court. 1909 W. de la Mare Private View (1953) 198 Longfellow, Emerson, and hosts of lesser men he laughed out of court. 1912 J. S. Huxley Individ. in Animal Kingdom i. 21 This..is alone enough to rule out of court the pretensions of all inorganic constellations to individuality. 1927 C. & M. Beard Rise Amer. Civ. II. xxiv. 347 If there had been any humor in international finance, many of their pleas would have been laughed out of court. 1927 Observer 20 Nov. 26 If he is using a horn type loud-speaker, he is out of court at once. 1960 C. S. Lewis Studies in Words iv. 89 A study of wit which does not take full account of its relation to ingenium would be out of court. |
13. a. A session of a judicial assembly; usually in
phr. to hold († keep) a court. (
Cf. sense 9.)
| [1292 Britton i. i. §13 Et volums ausi, qe..soint les Courtz tenues par les suytours.] 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 538 The constable of Gloucetre..Held ofte, in the kinges name, courtes ver & ner. 14.. Customs of Malton in Surtees Misc. (1890) 58 Thay schall haffe two Ballyffes and two undyr Ballyffes..for to hold the fore sayd cowrtt of ther own fre will. 1535 Coverdale 2 Macc. iv. 43 Of these matters therfore there was kepte a courte agaynst Menelaus. 1613 Shakes. Hen. VIII, iv. i. 27 The Archbishop Of Canterbury..Held a late Court at Dunstable. c 1774 T. Hutchinson Diary I. 69 The Superior Court was to be held the next morning in Boston. 1806 Gazetteer Scotl. (ed. 2) 197 Forfar..the county town of Angus-shire, where the sheriff has held his courts for upwards of two centuries. |
† b. A council of war. (
Cf. court-martial).
| 1623 Bingham Xenophon 73 When the Reare was come vp, immediately he called a Court of Coronels and Captaines. 1665 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (1677) 302 A Souldier..sneezing at a Court of War the whole Company bowed and blessed the Gods. |
14. An assembly or meeting of the qualified members of a company or corporation (
general court), or of the managing board or council thereof (
court of assistants,
committees,
directors,
governors, according to the style of these in different corporations); also, the qualified members or board collectively.
| 1527 Minute-book of the Mercers' Company (London), The Courte of our Compeny holden the 5th day of March 1456. 1555 Articles Russia Co. in Hakluyt Voy. (1589) 295 The Gouernour, Consuls, Assistants, and whole Company assembled this day in open court. 1556 Minute-bk. Grocers' Co., London, (heading), Courte of Assistaunts. 1600 (Dec. 31) Charter E. Ind. Co., At any of their publick Assemblies, commonly called their General Court, holden for the said Company. 1608 (title), Letter from the Factors at Bantam to the Court of Committees of the East India Company, 4th Dec. 1619–20 Order & Constit. Virginia 4 Rule 14 The Treasurer and the Counseil, or the Court, haue power to admit any into this Society. Ibid. 18 It shall not be counted a Court of Comitties, vnless the Treasurer or Deputie with sixe Comitties be present. 1628 Charter of Chas. I to Mattachusetts Bay Co., The said governor, deputy governor, and assistants of the said company..shall or may..assemble and hold and keep a court or assembly of themselves for the better ordering and directing of their affairs. 1661 Charter of Chas. II to E. Ind. Co. 3 At any public Assembly commonly called the Court General, holden for the said Company. 1694 Charter Bank of Eng. (in Penny Cycl. III. 380/1), That thirteen or more of the said governors and directors..shall constitute a Court of Directors. 1713 Lond. Gaz. No. 5097/1 The Sovereign, Recorder, Burgesses, Freemen, and Commonalty of Your Majesty's..Corporation of Kinsale, assembled at a Court of Deer-hundred. 1722 Act Incorp. Guy's Hosp. 15 Subject to the approbation or disallowance of a General Court or Assembly of such intended Corporation. 1726 Craftsman No. 5 (1727) 43 This day was held here [at the East India House] a general Court of the United Company of Merchants of England. 1829 Heath Grocers' Comp. (1869) p. vii, The Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Grocers. 1833 Act renewing Charter of Bank of Eng. (in Penny Cycl. III. 383/1), A general Court of Proprietors of the Bank shall be held. 1839 Penny Cycl. XIV. 118/1 The senior law-officers of the city have seats in the court [of Common Council], but have no vote... The sheriffs attend the lord-mayor on state occasions and at every court of aldermen. Ibid. 119/1 Certain senior members of the livery, who form what is commonly called ‘The Court of Assistants.’ 1854 Stocqueler Brit. India 43 There are eighteen directors of the East-India Company, ten or more of whom constitute a ‘court’. |
15. General Court: the designation of the legislatures of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as Colonies and as States of the American Union.
The former is the continuation of the ‘general court’ of the Massachusetts Bay Company, in preceding sense.
| 1628 Charter of Chas. I to Mattachusetts Bay Co., Held and kept by the governor, or deputy governor of the said company, and seven or more of the said assistants..which four general assemblies shall be styled and called the four great and general courts of the said company. 1662 Massach. Colony Laws c. 108 (1814) 211 It is ordered by this court and the authority thereof, that, etc. 1691 Massach. Province Charter (1814) 8 Which said great and general court or assembly shall consist of the governor and council or assistants for the time being; and of such freeholders of our said province or territory as shall be..elected or deputed by the..inhabitants of the respective towns or places. 1726 Explan. Charter of Geo. I, The representatives..shall..elect a fit person out of the said representatives to be speaker of the house of representatives in such general court. 1776 Massach. Prov. Laws 10 Geo. III, c. 328 An act providing for a more equal representation in the General Court. 1777 Ibid. c. 335, 1 Ind. (1814) 701 Whereas the King of Great Britain hath abdicated the government of this and the other United States of America, by putting them out of his protection, and unjustly levying war against them..Be it therefore enacted by the council and house of representatives in general court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that, etc. 1860 Bartlett Dict. Amer., Court, In New England this word is applied to a legislative body composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate; as the General Court of Massachusetts. 1875 Jevons Money (1878) 24 The Court of Massachusetts ordered, in 1649 [etc.]. 1889 Bryce Amer. Commw. I. xxxvii. 414. |
16. By some Friendly Societies, originally and particularly the Foresters, used as the name for a distinct local branch, corresponding to the ‘lodge’, ‘tent’, etc. of other Societies; also a meeting of such a branch, and of the central body (
High Court).
Adopted from the style of the
Court of the Forest or forest-court;
cf. the similar use of the terms
Ranger,
Woodward, etc.
| 1851 C. Hardwick Friendly Soc. 9 In January, 1850, the foresters consisted of 1553 courts (as they are named) comprising 80,089 members. 1886 (title), Rules of Court ‘Loyal Oxonian’ No. 2991, Branch of the Ancient Order of Foresters. Ibid. Rule 23 The Beadles..shall not admit into Court any but members of the Order. 1890 Report Chief Regr. Friendly Soc. 31 The ‘Royal Order [of Foresters]’ by August 1834 had opened 358 courts..In that year..a disruption took place, and the ‘Ancient Order’ was founded, drawing away to itself..294 courts of the Royal Order. Ibid. The first ‘High Court meeting’ was held at Salford in that year [1835]. Ibid. 224 United Sisters Friendly Society, Suffolk Unity..Cambridge Court..Cowen Court..Loyal Clifford Court. |
V. 17. a. Homage such as is offered at court; attention or courtship shown to one whose favour, affection, or interest is sought: in
phr. to make or pay (one's) court to [F.
faire la cour,
faire sa cour à]
= court v. 3, 4. (With
quot. 1590,
cf. accourt.)
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. ix. 2 Him the Prince with gentle court did bord. 1667 Evelyn Mem. (1857) II. 24, I went to make court to the Duke and Duchess of Newcastle, at their house in Clerkenwell. 1676 Dryden Aurengz. (J.), Flatter me, make thy court, and say it did. 1712 Arbuthnot John Bull ii. iv. (1755) 32 All the servants in the Family made high court to her. 1716 Lady M. W. Montague Lett. 14 Sept., At supper..the men had the permission of paying their Court. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. ii 11 His court being rather made to her mother than to herself. c 1850 Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.) 126, I went every day at certain hours to pay my court to the king. 1873 Black Pr. Thule iv. 49 Forgetting all the court that should have been paid to a pretty woman. 1875 M. Pattison Casaubon 29 Casaubon..had probably fallen in love with Estienne's MSS. collections, before he began to pay his court to the daughter. |
† b. ? Favour, influence.
Obs.| 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1862) I. 314 Let Christ's love bear most court in your soul and that court will bear down the love of other things. Ibid. I. 351, I am in some piece of court with our great King. |
VI. 18. attrib. and
Comb.:
a. in sense ‘of or belonging to a royal court’, as
court-amour,
court-attendant,
court-ball,
court-beauty,
court-breeding,
court-bubble,
court-chaplain,
court-contempt,
court-ease,
court-faction,
† court-familiar,
court-fashion,
court-favour,
court-favourite,
court-flatterer,
† court-frump,
† court-fucus,
court-intrigue,
court-lady,
court-life,
court-manners,
court-milliner,
court-mistress,
court-odour,
court-pageant,
court-poet,
† court-rook,
court-sermon,
court-trick,
court-wit,
court-word;
court-bred,
† court-curious,
court-ridden adjs.| 1598 Barret Theor. Warres ii. i. 23 Bestowing those charges vpon..Court-familiars and fauorites. 1601 B. Jonson Poetaster iv. i, You must look to be envied, and endure a few court-frumps for it. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iv. 759 Receiues not thy Nose Court-Odour from me? Reflect I not on thy Basenesse Court-contempt? Ibid. 768 Aduocate's the Court-word for a Pheazant. a 1625 Fletcher Elder Br. iv. i. 2 You are..Shapes, shadows, and the signs of men; court-bubbles, That every breath or breaks or blows away. 1631 Fuller David's Sin (1867) 235 Court-curious entertainment and fine fare. 1633 Ford Broken Hrt. ii. ii. (1839) 56 This same whoreson court-ease is temptation To a rebellion in the veins. 1647 R. Stapylton Juvenal 283 The great court favorite, Paris, sells The major's place and colonel's. 1649 Milton Eikon. Pref., While the king..washes over with a court-fucus the worst and foulest of his actions. Ibid. iv, By him only and his court faction. Ibid. vi, Certainly court-breeding and his perpetual conversation with flatterers was but a bad school. Ibid. viii, The quibbles of a court sermon. 1655 Bp. J. Richardson Upon Old Test. 385 (T.) The court-ladies especially, that were faulty as the men. a 1661 B. Holyday Juvenal 69 A court-rook, or one that by playing the cogging jester, and so humouring a leud emperour, was become a noble man. 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 767 Not in the bought smile Of Harlots..nor in Court Amours. 1672 Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.) Rehearsal (1714) 61 I'm sure Sir, I made your Cloaths in the Court-fashion. 1679 J. Goodman Penit. Pardoned iii. i. (1713) 275 What am I the better..for court-favour and countenance? 1682 Dryden Dk. of Guise ii. ii, Ha! Grillon here! some new court-trick upon me. 1683 Temple Mem. Wks. 1731 I. 408 He was by a Court-Intrigue recall'd to Madrid. 1697 Dryden æneid Ded., But was Ovid, the court-poet, so bad a courtier, as, etc. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 57 ¶1 A Fine Court-Lady. a 1715 Wycherley Posth. Wks. 23 (Jod.) Common court-friends, like common court-mistresses, ruin those they profess to love, by their embraces and friendship. 1738 Swift Pol. Conversat. p. xxxiii, Who have been fully convinced, by an infamous Court-Chaplain, that there is no such place as Hell. 1760 Goldsm. Cit. W. xciii, Court-bred poets. 1787 Hawkins Life Johnson 273 The refinements of court-manners. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xlviii, It was dangerous flattery..to tell a poor minister's wife that she was like a court-beauty. 1836 Prichard Phys. Hist. Mankind (1851) I. 1 Some brilliant ceremony, or court-pageant. 1852 Thackeray Esmond i. (1876) 2, I wonder shall History ever pull off her Periwig and cease to be court-ridden. 1888 M. E. Braddon Fatal Three i. i, She afforded a Court Milliner the very best possible scaffolding for expensive gowns. |
b. in sense ‘of or belonging to a court of law’, as
† court-bar,
court-fee.
| 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. xxxviii. 13 David borroweth not colored Rhetorik from the court-barre. 1822 T. Mitchell Aristoph. I. 92 And that same stock's gone off in Court-fees And law gratuities. |
19. Special combinations:
court-almanac, an almanac or annual hand-book of royal families and their courts;
† court-book (see
quot.);
† court-bowl, ? some form of the game of bowls (perhaps played in a court);
† court-bread, bread of the finest quality;
court-calendar = court-almanac;
† court-chair,
tr. of L.
sella curūlis, curule chair;
† court-chimney, ? a kind of small stove;
court circular, a daily record of the doings of the Court, published in the newspapers;
† court-compliment, an insincere compliment offered out of politeness;
† court-cream, insincere flattery such as is used by courtiers;
† court-cup (see
quot. 1676);
† court-dish (see
quot.);
† court-element, hollow flattery (
cf. court-water);
† court fagot, name of a kind of fagot;
court-fold, ‘a farm-yard.
Worc.’ (
Halliw.);
court-fool,
-jester, a jester kept for the amusement of a prince and his court;
† court-form, a form of process in the law courts (L.
formula);
court-guide, a directory (or section of a general directory) containing the names and addresses of the nobility, gentry, and people in ‘society’ (the theory being that it contains the names of all persons who have been presented at court);
† court-hall, (
a) the hall where the king holds his court; (
b) a manor-house (
cf. court-house);
court-hill, a moot-hill, on which a court was held;
† court-holder, one who holds or presides at a court;
† court-jack, a kind of leathern bottle or jug;
cf. black-jack;
† court-keeper, (
a)
= court-holder; (
b) see
quot. 1847;
court-lands (see
quot.);
† court letter, the form of letter used in
court-hand;
† court marshal, the marshal of a prince's household (
= G.
Hofmarschall); hence
court-marshaless, the wife of a court marshal;
† court-martialist, a soldier belonging to the Court;
court-metre, the
dróttkvætt metre used in the old Icelandic
drápa or heroic laudatory poem, which was recited before the king and his retinue (
drótt);
court-mourning, a period of mourning observed at Court, ‘mourning’ worn at Court or with court-dress;
† court nap (see
quot.);
court-newsman, a person appointed to furnish news of the doings of the Court;
court-night, a night on which the sovereign held his court;
court order Law (
orig. Amer.), a direction issued by a court or judge,
usu. requiring a person to do or refrain from doing something;
cf. order n. 24 a;
court-paper, an official paper giving particulars of the business before a (legal) court;
court-party, a political party which advocates the interests of the Court (
cf. country-party);
† court-passage: see
passage (a game at dice);
† court-post, the court-officer who carried letters between the Court and the post-office;
court-Scotch, the court-language of Scotland;
court shoe, a woman's light, low-cut shoe, often with a high or highish tapering or curved heel;
court-suit, (
a) a suit preferred at Court; (
b) a suit worn at Court, court-dress;
court-sword, a light sword worn as part of a man's court-dress;
† court-table (
cf. court-cupboard);
court tennis N. Amer. = tennis n. 1;
† court-water (
cf. court-holy-water);
court week U.S., the week in which the county court meets.
| 1557 Order of Hospitalls F iv, You shall kepe a *Court-booke..whereinto you shall write all things passed in any Courte or otherwise. |
| 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. I. 60 One might shoot with the arbalet, or play at *Court-boule on Sundayes. |
| 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Country Farme v. xx. 579 That which is called the finest bread, or *Court bread which is the lightest of all the rest. |
| 1758 Garrick Male Coquette i. (Jod.) There are quicker successions in your honour's list than the *court-calendars. 1793 F. Burney Lett. 29 Sept., If it had been an old court-calendar..he would have received it with his best bow and smile. |
| 1618 Bolton Florus iv. ii. 292 There the Senator stabd at him, as he sat in his *Court-chaire. |
| 1592 Greene Upst. Courtier in Harl. Misc. V. 414 (N.) They use..no fire, but a little *court chimnie in their owne chamber. |
| 1840 Dickens Old C. Shop xl, Mr. Chuckster entertained them with theatrical chit-chat and the *court circular. 1848 [see circular B. 2]. |
| 1655 Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. vi. §13 This was in some of them but a *Court-Complement. |
| a 1657 Sir J. Balfour Ann. Scot. (1824–5) II. 180 With no more labor and expensse, then the cuning bestouing of soume *courte creame one the comons. |
| 1592 Nashe P. Penilesse (N.), And yet I know a hundred..that will make a jolly shift with a *court-cup on their crownes, if the weather bee colde. 1676 True Gentlew. Delight (N.), Let it dry in an ashen dish, otherwise called a court-cup..till it be dry, and it will be like a saucer. |
| a 1655 Bp. G. Goodman Crt. James I, I. 311 The King..caused his carver to cut him out a *court-dish, that is, something of every dish, which he sent him, as part of his reversion. |
| 1649 Milton Eikon. xvii, This intricate stuff tattled here of Timothy and Titus, and I know not whom their successors, far beyond *court element, and as far beneath true edification. |
| 1523 MS. Acc. St. John's Hosp., Canterb., For makyng of x loodis of *Court fagot iijs. iiijd. |
| 1789 Walpoliana cxi. 46 Our *Court-fools ceased with the reign of Charles I. 1858 Doran Crt. Fools 22 The authors thus played the part of court fools by deputy. |
| 1699 T. C[ockman] Tully's Offices (1706) 276 Aquillius..had not then publish'd his *Court-forms about Knavery. |
| 1814 Moore Epigr. i. 309, ‘I want the *Court-Guide’, said my Lady, ‘to look If the House, Seymour Place, be at 30 or 20’. 1837 Thackeray Ravenswing i, Registered in Mr. Boyle's ‘Court Guide’. |
| 1552 Huloet, *Courte hall, Basilica, Regia Aula. 1598 Stow Surv. xxxiii. (1603) 294 The name of Aldermans burie..there kept in their Bery or Court-hall. |
| 1875 W. M{supc}Ilwraith Guide Wigtownshire 15 On the point of a tongue of land is an ancient *court-hill. |
| 1540 Act 32 Hen. VIII, c. 13 §7 The steward or deputy-stuarde or *courtholder of the same leete or lawday. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. iv. v. (1588) 504 The Court-holders of such Leetes are bound to certifie the same. |
| 1631 Celestina Ep. Ded. A iij, Like a *Court-jack, which though it be blacke, yet holds as good liquor as your fairest. |
| 1641 W. Sheppard (title), The *Court Keepers' Guide, for keeping of Courts Leet and Courts Baron. 1715 G. Jacob (title), Complete Court Keeper; or Land Stewards Assistant. 1847–78 Halliwell, Court-keeper, the master at a game of racket, or ball. |
| 1848 Wharton Law Lex., *Court-lands, domains or lands kept in the lord's hands to serve his family. |
| 1690 Lond. Gaz. No. 2612/4 The Young Clerk Compleated..with breaks off the *Court Letters, and 166 Words Abbreviated in Court Hand, and fairly written at length in Secretary. |
| 1692 Molesworth Acct. Denmark (1694) 147 The *Court Mareschal invites whom he thinks fit to eat with the King. 1693 Lond. Gaz. No. 2845/2 Next..the Grand-Marshal, and Court-Marshal with the Silver Staves of Office [at the Saxon Court]. |
| 1833 S. Austin Charact. Goethe II. 76 Countess and Hofmarschallin (*court-marshaless) von E—. |
| 1624 Davenport City Nt.-Cap iv, Have I ruined so many city-citadels to let in *court-martialists, and shall this country-cottage hold out? |
| 1883 Vigfusson & Powell Corpus Poet. Bor. I. 432 The reason why the court-poets counted by the half-line..is manifest. The *court-metre was their standard. 1896 Scot. Rev. XXVIII. 334 Drótt-kvætt..was thus the commonest metre for the drápa, or laudatory poem... The name of ‘court-metre’ is thus appropriate enough. |
| 1791 Boswell Johnson (1848) 771/2 Goldsmith's last comedy was to be represented during some *court-mourning. |
| 1639 Shirley Gentl. of Venice iii. iv, We are cheated by a *court-nap [referring to an old officer of the court who is going to arrest them]. |
| 1837 Dickens Pickw. xxiii. (heading), Describes, far more fully than the *Court Newsman ever did, a bachelor's party given by Mr. Bob Sawyer. 1863 Illustr. Lond. News 16 Jan. (Hoppe), The Queen has conferred the appointment of Court-newsman upon Mr. Thomas Beard. |
| 1715 Pope Let. to Congreve 19 Mar., The three first nights (notwithstanding two of them were *court-nights) were distinguished by very full audiences of the first Quality. |
| 1650 in East-Hampton (N.Y.) Rec. (1887) I. 6 Thomas Tallmage is to have the sum of 20s for Recordinge the *Court orders for this present yeare. 1922 R. Parrish Case & Girl xxx. 318 Court order was issued today; the entire estate placed..in the possession of Natalie Coolidge. 1964 E. Baker Fine Madness xiv. 166 Suppose there's a court order against him for something like not paying alimony. 1983 H. Evans Good Times, Bad Times i. 9 The presses were running, but at any moment I expected a court order to stop them—and at the behest of the Government. |
| 1752 J. Louthian Form of Process (ed. 2) 193 The Clerk..should make a *Court-paper of the Day and Place of the Sessions, the Names of the Justices present, and of the Persons indicted. |
| 1762 Hume Hist. Eng. VIII. lxviii. (Jod.), The *court party reasoned in an opposite manner. 1864 H. Ainsworth John Law i. (1881) 8 This second plan, though supported by the court party..was rejected. |
| 1743 List Govt. Officers in Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. ii. 80 *Court-Post, Dennis Bond, Esq; at per Diem {pstlg}2. 1766 Entick London IV. 295 There is a court-post, who has 2l. a day. |
| 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xlviii, She was educated in a convent abroad, and speaks that pure *court-Scotch, which was common in my younger days. |
| 1885 Queen 20 June (Advt.), The ‘Watteau’ or ‘Queen Anne’ *court shoe. 1932 S. Gibbons Cold Comfort Farm xi. 156 Elfine, whatever you do, always wear court shoes. 1933 Yorkshire Even. Post 1 Sept., In the [American] shoe department confusion can arise if one asks for court-shoes, for which the American is pumps. |
| 1632 Brome Crt. Begger i. Wks. 1873 I. 187 Your ayme has bin to raise Your state by *Court-suits. 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. iii. vii, It was Tubalcain that made thy very Tailor's needle, and sewed that court-suit of thine. |
| 1629 Inv. Househ. Goods (Trans. Essex Arch. Soc. New Ser. III. ii. 167), i litle *Court Table..i Court Cubberd, Carved. |
| 1911 Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 9 Apr. 1/2 Jay Gould, of New York, won the national *court tennis championship for the sixth successive year this afternoon. 1930 Times Lit. Suppl. 1 May 375/2 Tennis—in America known as court tennis. |
| 1616 T. Adams Disc. Sovle xviii. 67 The Flatterer is after the nature of a Barber; and first trimmes the head of his masters humour, and then sprinkles it with *Court-water. |
| 1724 in Essex Inst. Coll. XXXVI. 332 Jan. 2 *Court Week. 1944 Duncan & Nickols Mentor Graham 13 Greensburg may have been gay during court week, but education was its hobby. |
▪ II. † court, n.2 Obs. Some kind of cart for carrying stones, bricks, lime, sand, and the like. Hence
court-load.
Cf. also
courtier2.
| 1576 Act 18 Eliz. c. 10 §4 Every person shall be charged to find..one Cart, Wain, Tumbrel, Dungpot or Court, Sleads, Cars, or Drays, furnished for..Repairing of the Highways [in Statutes of Irel. an. 12 Jas. I (Bolton, 432) printed ‘Tumbrell, Dung-pott or Courtslad’]. 1577 Holinshed Chron. IV. 858 Yet had they for their horsse, their court, and their driver but onelie twelve pence a daie. 1587 Fleming Contn. Holinshed III. 1542/1 There were to be imploied five or six hundred courts about a wall of small bredth. 1703 T. N. City & C. Purchaser 203 Workmen in Sussex tell me, that they commonly put 2 of their Court-loads (that is about 24 Bushels) of Sand to 1 Load..of Lime. |
▪ III. court, v. (
kɔət)
[f. court n.1 Cf. Old It. corteare, OF. cortoyer to be or reside at court (f. corte, court court), later It. corteggiare, F. courtiser in senses 3, 4: cf. courtesan.] I. † 1. intr. To be or reside at court, to frequent the court.
Obs.| 1515 [see courting 1]. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 390 The king reteyned unto him a gard of Archers of Chesshire..And after these rusticall people had a while Courted, they entered into so great a boldnesse, that they would not let [etc.]. |
† 2. to court it: To play or act the courtier.
Obs. (
Cf. to coach it,
foot it, etc.)
| 1553 T. Wilson Rhet. (1580) 176 When we see one gaie and gallaunt, we use to saie, he courtes it. 1612 T. Taylor Comm. Titus ii. 4 To instruct them to become as bold as souldiers, to court it like curtezans. 1619 Sacrilege Handled Ep. Ded. 2 It goeth neuer better, than when the Church Courteth it and the Court Churcheth it. 1657 J. Smith Myst. Rhet. 74, I cannot Court it, i.e. I can not perform the duty or manners of a Courtier. |
II. 3. trans. To pay court to, pay courteous attention to; to try to win favour with.
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. ix. 34 A lovely bevy of faire Ladies sate, Courted of many a jolly Paramoure. a 1656 Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 39 Our unletter'd Grand-fathers were wont to court God Almighty with false Latin. 1764 Goldsm. Trav. 362 To flatter kings, or court the great. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 218 While the king was thus courting his old adversaries. 1883 Sir T. Martin Ld. Lyndhurst viii. 200 A man..sure to be courted in the best London society. |
b. absol.| 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. ii. 15 She led him vp into a goodly boure And comely courted with meet modestie. |
4. To pay amorous attention to, seek to gain the affections of, make love to (with a view to marriage), pay addresses to, woo. (Now somewhat
homely; also
poet.)
| 1580 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 353 To picke out those that can court you, not those that loue you. 1589 Warner Alb. Engl. vi. xxxi. (1612) 156 With rufull lookes, sighes..and Fooleries more than few I courted her. 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. iii. 4 While he Neæra courts, but courts in vain, And fears that I the Damsel shall obtain. 1722 De Foe Relig. Courtsh. i. ii. (1840) 102 She declares she will not marry, no, not if a peer of the realm courted her. 1752 Johnson Rambler No. 201 ¶11 He courted a young lady. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 353 There they had made their friendships, had courted their wives. 1873 R. Bridges Poems (1891) i. v, I heard a linnet courting His lady in the spring. 1878 Black Green Past. I. 1 A young man had come courting the earl's daughter. |
b. absol.| 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. iii. i. 85 Long agone I haue forgot to court. 1596 ― Tam. Shr. iv. ii. 27 See how they kisse and court. 1601 Weever Mirr. Mart. B v b, But how he courted..And how the fauour of this Nimph he wonne. 1785 Burns Young Peggy 14 When feather'd pairs are courting. 1858 Kingsley Poems, Starling 7 When we and our mates were courting merrily! |
c. fig. and
transf. Cf. to woo.
| 1632 Lithgow Trav. vii. 329 Our Boate ready to court the shoare. 1674 Milton Samson 719 Sails filled, and streamers waving, Courted by all the winds that hold them play. 1743–6 Shenstone Elegies vi. 27 A train of lovers court the chequer'd shade. 1764 Goldsm. Trav. 114 Fruits..That proudly rise, or humbly court the ground. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles v. i, Courting the sunbeam as she plied her toil. 1832 Motherwell Poems (1847) 1 Their broad sheets court the breeze. |
5. To seek to win or attract (any one) to do something; to invite, allure, entice
into,
to,
from,
out of, etc.
Cf. to woo.
| 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. ii. Wks. 1856 I. 28 Downy sleep Courts us to entertaine his company. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. v. xviii. 429 Opportunity courted him to procure the Empire for himself. 1655 Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 688, I come not now to Court you from him. 1663 Bp. Patrick Parab. Pilgr., A sight he had been long pursuing..but could never court it into his embraces. 1703 Pope Thebais 38 All the skies, ambitious of thy sway, Conspire to court thee from our world away. 1707 E. Ward Hud. Rediv. (1715) ii. v, Dear Sir..let me court ye To take a Coach, because it's dirty. 1773 Johnson Let. Mrs. Thrale 30 Sept. (1788) I. 156 An interval of calm sunshine courted us out to see a cave on the shore. a 1844 Campbell Poems, Caroline ii, To Evening Star 6 Wanton flowers that well may court An angel's feet to tread them down. 1873 Burton Hist. Scot. VI. lxxi. 218 Gustavus Adolphus..courted them to his standard. |
6. a. To show oneself desirous of, to seek to win or attract, to affect (a thing).
| 1571 Campion Hist. Irel. ii. ix. (1633) 109 That he curtyed acquaintance with meere Irish enemyes. 1639 Fuller Holy War iv. viii. (1840) 192 Never would he have had the face to have courted the crown imperial. 1769 Robertson Chas. V, V. ii. 281 Both of them courted his friendship. 1837 H. Martineau Soc. Amer. II. 130 They rather court publicity for their opinions. 1879 Froude Cæsar viii. 79 Sylla never courted popularity. |
b. To act as though trying to provoke (something harmful, unpleasant, etc.); to invite unwisely.
| 1930 G. B. Shaw Mrs. Warren's Profession Rev. pref. in Works (1930) VII. 152 Another club..which rather courted a pleasantly scandalous reputation, opened its doors for one night and one afternoon. 1942 R. Field And now Tomorrow i. 1 There is a fascination in places that hold our past in safe keeping. We are drawn to them, often against our will... I knew it yesterday in that hour I spent in the storeroom's dusty chillness, half dreading, half courting the pangs which each well remembered object brought. 1953 J. Wain Hurry on Down vii. 141 He drove faster and more wildly... Courting death, their own and anyone else's, was the one possible chance of escape. 1961 K. Tynan Curtains i. 69 A dramatist could inject a shot of colloquialism into a tragic aria without courting bathos. 1986 N.Y. Times 11 May iv. 21/1 They knew they were courting disaster by challenging a state that tolerates no challenges. |
III. 7. To sue in a court of law, to ‘put in the court’.
colloq. (
Cf. county-court v.)
| 1847 Illustr. Lond. News 31 July 67/3 The usual advice when a party complains of another owing him money, is, ‘Oh, court him!’ |