courtly
Fit for royalty
Courtly describes refined, elegant behavior associated with royal courts—graceful manners, formal politeness, and dignified bearing: He gave a courtly bow.
The word often carries an old-fashioned or romantic quality: courtly love, courtly gestures.
Someone courtly conducts themselves with aristocratic grace, whether genuinely noble or merely affecting the style.
Courageously attentive and refined
- chivalrousHonorably courteous and brave
- suitorOne who seeks affection
- wooerOne who courts another
- admirerOne who esteems another
amorous · dashing · devoted · attentive · flirtation · wooing · serenade · troubadour
Gracefully refined, tasteful
- graciousPleasantly kind and courteous
- polishedSmooth, refined, accomplished
- cultivatedImproved through nurture
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
urbane · dignified · stately · genteel · mannered · well-bred · civilized · cultured
Prescribed conduct rules
- decorumFitting social conduct
- deportmentManner and conduct
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
- mannersCustoms of polite conduct
ceremony · formality · precedence · address · title · honorific · curtsy · bow
Titled ruling class
- peerageSystem of noble ranks
- monarchHereditary supreme ruler
- dukeHighest-ranking nobleman
- duchessWoman of ducal rank
baron · earl · viscount · marquess · manor · dynasty · lineage · heraldry
Elaborate ceremonial display
- processionFormal moving line
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- investitureCeremony conferring rank
- enthronementFormal investiture of sovereign
ritual · pomp · regalia · fanfare · herald · trumpet · banquet · feast
gallant
Courageously attentive and refined
- chivalrousHonorably courteous and brave
- suitorOne who seeks affection
- wooerOne who courts another
admirer · amorous · dashing · devoted · attentive · flirtation · wooing · serenade · troubadour · favor
elegant
Gracefully refined, tasteful
- graciousPleasantly kind and courteous
- polishedSmooth, refined, accomplished
- cultivatedImproved through nurture
sophisticated · urbane · dignified · stately · genteel · mannered · well-bred · civilized · cultured · graceful
protocol
Prescribed conduct rules
- decorumFitting social conduct
- deportmentManner and conduct
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
manners · ceremony · formality · precedence · address · title · honorific · curtsy · bow · salutation
nobility
Titled ruling class
duchess · baron · earl · viscount · marquess · manor · dynasty · lineage · heraldry · blueblood
pageantry
Elaborate ceremonial display
- processionFormal moving line
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- investitureCeremony conferring rank
enthronement · ritual · pomp · regalia · fanfare · herald · trumpet · banquet · feast · tournament
- chivalryknighthood, knights, chivalry, medieval knights, honor
- mannersetiquette, manners, polite, rude, politeness
- elegantchic, stylish, refined, tasteful, elegant
- regalroyal, kingly, queenly, princely, majestic
- speech registersformal, informal, casual, colloquial, vernacular
- nobilityking, queen, prince, princess, duke
courtlyprovincial
Regional or narrow-minded
uncultured · rustic · common · lowbrow · plebeian
- food courtCommunal mall dining area
- court orderBinding judicial directive
- tennis courtNet-bisected playing rectangle
- in courtDuring legal proceedings
- basketball courtRectangular hoops playing surface
- courtroom testimonySworn statements in trial
court, courtesy, courteous, courtship, courting, courthouse, courtroom, courted, courtesies