Library / English Dictionary

CURTSY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: curtsied   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women

Synonyms:

curtsey; curtsy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

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)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Example:

She curtsied when she shook the Queen's hand

Synonyms:

bob; curtsy

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Bend the knees in a gesture of respectful greeting

Synonyms:

curtsey; curtsy

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

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)

Credits