CURTSY (curtsied)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: curtsied   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does curtsy mean? 

• CURTSY (noun)
  The noun CURTSY has 1 sense:

1. bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women

  Familiarity information: CURTSY used as a noun is very rare.

• CURTSY (verb)
  The verb CURTSY has 2 senses:

1. bend the knees in a gesture of respectful greeting

2. make a curtsy; usually done only by girls and women; as a sign of respect

  Familiarity information: CURTSY used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CURTSY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

curtsey; curtsy

Hypernyms ("curtsy" is a kind of...):

reverence (an act showing respect (especially a bow or curtsy))

gesture; motion (the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals)

Derivation:

curtsy (make a curtsy; usually done only by girls and women; as a sign of respect)

curtsy (bend the knees in a gesture of respectful greeting)

• CURTSY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they curtsy    ... he / she / it curtsies   
Past simple: curtsied   
Past participle: curtsied   
-ing form: curtsying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bend the knees in a gesture of respectful greeting

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

curtsey; curtsy

Hypernyms (to "curtsy" is one way to...):

bow (bend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

curtsy (bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make a curtsy; usually done only by girls and women; as a sign of respect

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

bob; curtsy

Context example:

She curtsied when she shook the Queen's hand

Hypernyms (to "curtsy" is one way to...):

greet; recognise; recognize (express greetings upon meeting someone)

"Curtsy" entails doing...:

bow; bow down (bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

curtsy (bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women)

 Context examples 

Dorothy nodded gravely and the Queen made a curtsy, after which she became quite friendly with the little girl.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

However, the prince would have her come; and she first washed her face and hands, and then went in and curtsied to him, and he reached her the golden slipper.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

As Janet curtsied, hoping I was well, I observed my aunt's visage lengthen very much.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Wherever they went, some pattened girl stopped to curtsy, or some footman in dishabille sneaked off.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

When they had paid their tribute of politeness by curtsying to the lady of the house, they were permitted to mingle in the crowd, and take their share of the heat and inconvenience, to which their arrival must necessarily add.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

In this room there was a wardrobe full of old-fashioned costumes with which Esther allowed her to play, and it was her favorite amusement to array herself in the faded brocades, and parade up and down before the long mirror, making stately curtsies, and sweeping her train about with a rustle which delighted her ears.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

When the dance was at an end she curtsied; and when the king looked round for her, she was gone, no one knew wither.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

With this parting cordial she curtsies off—you listen to the sound of her receding footsteps as long as the last echo can reach you—and when, with fainting spirits, you attempt to fasten your door, you discover, with increased alarm, that it has no lock.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

She curtsied her acquiescence.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)