curtsey
A small bow, generally performed by a woman or a girl, where she crosses the shin of…A small bow, generally performed by a woman or a girl, where she crosses the shin of one leg behind the calf of her other leg and briefly bends her knees to lower her body in deference.
Meaning
1 sensesA small bow, generally performed by a woman or a girl, where she crosses the shin of one leg behind the calf of her other leg and briefly bends her knees to lower her body in deference.
I refused to make so much as a curtsey for the passing nobles, as I am a staunch egalitarian.
Knicks
ревера́нсreveráns, кни́ксенkníksɛn, приседа́ниеprisedánije
- bending the knees; a gesture of respect made by women
Examples
5 sentencesThe duchess curtsied gracefully before the king.
Nobody really curtsies anymore.
She curtsied with impeccable grace.
Mary should curtsey.
After dropping a curtsey, she stood blinking at us with her bleared eyes and fumbling in her pocket with nervous, shaky fingers.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Variant of courtesy (1525) (from court + -esy), from Middle English curteisie, curtesie, fVariant of courtesy (1525) (from court + -esy), from Middle English curteisie, curtesie, from Anglo-Norman curtesie, from Old French curteisie, cortoisie.
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