Meaning of "curtsy" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD CURTSY

Variant of courtesy.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF CURTSY

ˈkɜːtsɪ

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF CURTSY

Curtsy is a verb and can also act as a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb curtsy in English.

WHAT DOES CURTSY MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Curtsey

A curtsey is a traditional gesture of greeting, in which a girl or woman bends her knees while bowing her head. It is the female equivalent of male bowing in Western cultures. Miss Manners characterizes its knee bend as deriving from a "traditional gesture of an inferior to a superior." The word "curtsy" is a phonological change from "courtesy" known in linguistics as syncope. According to Desmond Morris, the motions involved in the curtsey and the bow were similar until the 17th century, and the gender differentiation between the actions developed afterwards. The earlier, combined version is still performed by Restoration comedy actors. In more formal variants of the curtsey, the girl/woman bends the knees outward, often sweeping one foot behind her. She may also use her hands to hold her skirt out from her body. In Victorian era, when women wore floor-length, hooped skirts, they curtsied using the plié movement borrowed from second-position in classical ballet in which the knees are bent while the back is held straight. Both feet and knees point out so the torso lowers straight down. This way, the lady lowers herself evenly, not to one side.

Definition of curtsy in the English dictionary

The definition of curtsy in the dictionary is a formal gesture of greeting and respect made by women in which the knees are bent, the head slightly bowed, and the skirt held outwards. Other definition of curtsy is to make a curtsy.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO CURTSY

PRESENT

Present

I curtsy

you curtsy

he/she/it curtsies

we curtsy

you curtsy

they curtsy

Present continuous

I am curtsying

you are curtsying

he/she/it is curtsying

we are curtsying

you are curtsying

they are curtsying

Present perfect

I have curtsied

you have curtsied

he/she/it has curtsied

we have curtsied

you have curtsied

they have curtsied

Present perfect continuous

I have been curtsying

you have been curtsying

he/she/it has been curtsying

we have been curtsying

you have been curtsying

they have been curtsying

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I curtsied

you curtsied

he/she/it curtsied

we curtsied

you curtsied

they curtsied

Past continuous

I was curtsying

you were curtsying

he/she/it was curtsying

we were curtsying

you were curtsying

they were curtsying

Past perfect

I had curtsied

you had curtsied

he/she/it had curtsied

we had curtsied

you had curtsied

they had curtsied

Past perfect continuous

I had been curtsying

you had been curtsying

he/she/it had been curtsying

we had been curtsying

you had been curtsying

they had been curtsying

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will curtsy

you will curtsy

he/she/it will curtsy

we will curtsy

you will curtsy

they will curtsy

Future continuous

I will be curtsying

you will be curtsying

he/she/it will be curtsying

we will be curtsying

you will be curtsying

they will be curtsying

Future perfect

I will have curtsied

you will have curtsied

he/she/it will have curtsied

we will have curtsied

you will have curtsied

they will have curtsied

Future perfect continuous

I will have been curtsying

you will have been curtsying

he/she/it will have been curtsying

we will have been curtsying

you will have been curtsying

they will have been curtsying

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would curtsy

you would curtsy

he/she/it would curtsy

we would curtsy

you would curtsy

they would curtsy

Conditional continuous

I would be curtsying

you would be curtsying

he/she/it would be curtsying

we would be curtsying

you would be curtsying

they would be curtsying

Conditional perfect

I would have curtsy

you would have curtsy

he/she/it would have curtsy

we would have curtsy

you would have curtsy

they would have curtsy

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been curtsying

you would have been curtsying

he/she/it would have been curtsying

we would have been curtsying

you would have been curtsying

they would have been curtsying

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you curtsy
we let´s curtsy
you curtsy

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to curtsy

Past participle

curtsied

Present Participle

curtsying

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

TRANSLATION OF CURTSY

Find out the translation of curtsy to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of curtsy from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «curtsy» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 屈膝礼
• Translator English - Spanish: curtsy
• English: curtsy
• Translator English - Hindi: curtsy
• Translator English - Arabic: curtsy
• Translator English - Russian: реверанс
• Translator English - Portuguese: mesura
• Translator English - Bengali: নতজানু হইয়া নমস্কার করা
• Translator English - French: révérence
• Translator English - Malay: Singkat
• Translator English - German: Knicks
• Translator English - Japanese: おじぎ
• Translator English - Korean: 말라구
• Translator English - Javanese: Langsing
• Translator English - Vietnamese: chào người nào
• Translator English - Tamil: curtsy
• Translator English - Marathi: कर्टी
• Translator English - Turkish: reverans
• Translator English - Italian: riverenza
• Translator English - Polish: curtsy
• Translator English - Ukrainian: реверанс
• Translator English - Romanian: reverență
• Translator English - Greek: υπόκλιση
• Translator English - Afrikaans: curtsyleer
• Translator English - Swedish: niga
• Translator English - Norwegian: curtsy

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «CURTSY»

Discover the use of curtsy in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to curtsy and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

Finger Rhymes for Manners (ENHANCED eBook):

I'm a giraffe, so tall and proud, (Stand tall and lift chin) I can see over the crowd, ( Place hands over eyes) When you come to visit me, (Point to self) I bend down low to curtsy, (Curtsy) And say hello! (Wave) And away I go! (Move fingers back ...

Lily Erlic, 2011

Finger Rhymes for Manners (eBook):

I'm a giraffe, so tall and proud, (Stand tall and lift chin) I can see over the crowd, ( Place hands over eyes) When you come to visit me, (Point to self) I bend down low to curtsy, (Curtsy) And say hello! (Wave) And away I go! (Move fingers back ...

Lily Erlic, 2011

Finger Rhymes for Manners:

I'm a giraffe, so tall and proud, (Stand tall and lift chin) I can see over the crowd, ( Place hands over eyes) When you come to visit me, (Point to self) I bend down low to curtsy, (Curtsy) And say hello! (Wave) And away I go! (Move fingers back ...

Lily Erlic, 2010

Elsewhen

The specifications for the feet positions of each curtsy were the distance between the feet, and the relative angle between the feet. This data was also presented to the judges as numerical values on the picture. The girl's facial expression was ...

William Patterson, 2005

Playing Period Plays

The Elizabethan curtsy was a stiff affair. The arms were stretched out to the side with the hands resting on the edge of the farthingale. The skirt was not lifted. Both knees were bent slightly and the head was inclined towards the person to whom  ...

Lyn Oxenford, 1958

Dive In!: Fun Faith Builders

Whenever you see me curtsy, like this (demonstrate), you curtsy too, and turn to Queen Esther's picture. lf you see me bow down, turn to King Xerxes' or King X's picture. Turn to Mordecai's picture. We will turn to this picture of Mordecai when I  ...

David C Cook Publishing Company, 2009

Etiquette & Espionage

Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education. Set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate, this YA series debut is filled with all the saucy adventure and droll humor Gail's legions of fans have come to adore.

Gail Carriger, 2013

More French You Use Without Knowing It: More Stories of ...

I couldn't resist giving curtsy a section of its own. The word curtsy was a variant spelling of courtesy dating from the middle 1500's (from Old French corteisie), and referred to showing respect by a gesture, such as bending the knee and bowing ...

Saul H. Rosenthal, 2010

Friends' Intelligencer

The same may be said, too, of the curtsy, or courtesy, as it is otherwise written. Its derivation from courtoigie, courteousness, that is, behaviour like that at court, at once shows that it was primarily the reverence paid to a monarch. And if we call ...

Legends and Stories That Should Be Movies: Over a Dozen New ...

Alice tried to curtsy in a meaningful way as the small herd tramped by, not an easy task while wearing dirty sweats and sneakers on a bad hair day. “You really like that hat thing, don't you, sir?” “Shussh,” he said reverently. His eyes following  ...

John Irwin, 2006

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «CURTSY»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term curtsy is used in the context of the following news items.

Nichola McAuliffe on Maurice's Jubilee: From Penge to the Moscow …

The "reverence" (a deep ballet curtsy), taught me by Sir Kenneth MacMillan, finally came in useful. We had planned to give our small gifts to the ... «The Independent, Jul 15»

How Caroline Kennedy Learned About Her Dad's Assassination

Shaw even taught him and sister Caroline how to curtsy for the Queen. We Recommend. On November 22, 1963, Jackie's mother, Janet ... «GoodHousekeeping.com, Jul 15»

So You Want Sexier Thighs ?

Curtsy Lunge: Stand with your feet together and your hands on your hips. Crossing your right foot at least two feet behind your left (right toes ... «Loop 21, Jul 15»

Prince George Has An Adorable Name For Queen Elizabeth

But while the rest of the world refers to Queen Elizabeth II as “Your Majesty,” and bow or curtsy when introduced to her, the Mirror have now ... «The Inquisitr, Jul 15»

Get rid of jiggly thighs with these 5 easy exercises

The second exercise is the curtsy raise. It works out your quadriceps and is best to get rid of jiggly thighs and improve your balance. The third ... «TheHealthSite, Jul 15»

Maria Sharapova Ascends To Wimbledon 2015 Quarterfinals After …

Players are required to bow or curtsy in the presence of The Queen or the Prince of Wales. Tags Maria Sharapova, Wimbledon 2015, Zarina ... «Christianity Daily, Jul 15»

Fred Perry, Andy Murray, How 77 years fly by when you are having …

... Martina and Chrissy, etc. play some unbelievable matches, hold up that coveted trophy, curtsy to the Royal Box and kiss the hallowed ground ... «10sBalls, Jul 15»

The 20-minutes workout to lose your love handles

Starting from one leg, hop side to side, dropping one leg back behind you into a deep curtsy lunge. The goal with this exercise is to really take ... «Stuff.co.nz, Jul 15»

Redlands July 4th parade remembers 'The Good Old Days'

... a restored Six by Six Jeep from World War II to the Kimberly Juniors marching unit's graceful curtsy to the special guests on the grandstand. «Redlands Daily Facts, Jul 15»

ObamaCare and America's Death Spiral

No doubt, while the first half of his statement appears to be a curtsy to the “fixed” axiom, it is a sophist's sleight-of-hand; for he knows that they ... «American Thinker, Jul 15»