curtseying
Dipping in deference
Curtseying is the present participle of curtsy, describing the act of performing a formal gesture of respect in which a person, typically a woman or girl, bends their knees while keeping the back straight, often with a slight bow of the head.
The gesture is traditionally made before royalty or other dignitaries.
She was curtseying to the queen when her heel caught on her gown.
Respectful forward inclination
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- obeisanceGesture of reverence
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
manners · politeness · civility · formal greeting · presentation · acknowledgment · respect · homage
Titled ruling class
- royaltyPayment for usage rights
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
- debutanteFormally introduced young woman
- gentryHighborn but not noble
aristocracy · ladyship · monarch · queen · duchess · countess · palace · throne room
Of 19th-century Britain
- regencySubstitute monarch's authority
- bygoneOf earlier times
- old-fashionedBelonging to earlier times
- traditionCustom passed through generations
antiquated · 18th century · 19th century · finishing school · governesses · chaperone · cotillion · coming-out
Raised performance platform
- performanceCarrying out a task
- actressFemale stage performer
- costume dramaHistorical fiction with ornate attire
- period pieceWork set in past era
rehearsal · curtain call · audience · spectacle · dramatic · playhouse · West End · Broadway
Ballet knee-bending movement
- barreFixed studio rail
- positionsLocations or viewpoints held
- choreographyDesigning performance movement sequences
- ballerinaClassical female dancer
tutu · classical dance · pas de deux · adagio · corps de ballet · prima ballerina · grand plié · ballet master
bow
Respectful forward inclination
- deferenceYielding to another's judgment
- reverenceProfound admiring respect
- obeisanceGesture of reverence
protocol · manners · politeness · civility · formal greeting · presentation · acknowledgment · respect · homage · salutation
nobility
Titled ruling class
- royaltyPayment for usage rights
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
- debutanteFormally introduced young woman
gentry · aristocracy · ladyship · monarch · queen · duchess · countess · palace · throne room · ballgown
victorian
Of 19th-century Britain
- regencySubstitute monarch's authority
- bygoneOf earlier times
- old-fashionedBelonging to earlier times
tradition · antiquated · 18th century · 19th century · finishing school · governesses · chaperone · cotillion · coming-out · demure
stage
Raised performance platform
- performanceCarrying out a task
- actressFemale stage performer
- costume dramaHistorical fiction with ornate attire
period piece · rehearsal · curtain call · audience · spectacle · dramatic · playhouse · West End · Broadway · costume
plié
Ballet knee-bending movement
- barreFixed studio rail
- positionsLocations or viewpoints held
- choreographyDesigning performance movement sequences
ballerina · tutu · classical dance · pas de deux · adagio · corps de ballet · prima ballerina · grand plié · ballet master · classical training
- submission gestureskowtow, genuflection, genuflect, genuflecting, prostration
- mannersetiquette, manners, polite, rude, politeness
- gesturesgesture, hand gestures, applause, hand raise, tap on shoulder
- signalssignal, signals, signaling, sign, waved
- complianceaudit, obeying, policy, compliance officer, regulation
curtseyinghigh-fiving
Celebratory palm contact overhead
waving · nodding · backslapping · handshaking
curtseyingsnubbing
Pointedly ignoring someone
ignoring · turning one's back · spitting · giving the finger · commanding
courtesy, courteous, curtsy, courtesies, discourtesy, curtsey, courteously, courtesied, curtsies