Curtesie

Curtesie is an archaic spelling of courtesy, meaning polite behavior and consideration shown toward others. The term enters Middle English via Old French curteisie, from curteis “courteous,” ultimately tracing to Romance or Latin roots associated with courtly manners. In historical contexts curtesie also appears in law and literature, indicating social propriety as well as ceremonial acts of respect.

In English legal history, curtesy (often spelled curtesie in older texts) referred to the right of a husband to a life estate in his deceased wife's lands if she died leaving issue, subject to certain conditions; it differed from the wife's dower. The concept persisted through the medieval and early modern periods and was gradually curtailed or reformed by statute in various jurisdictions, and it is largely obsolete in modern law.

Today, curtesie survives primarily as a historical or literary spelling of courtesy. The modern sense of the word is the attitude and behavior of showing consideration for others—politeness, manners, hospitality, and civil conduct. In cultural and ethical discussions, curtesie is treated as a facet of civil society and etiquette, often contrasted with rudeness or incivility; related terms include courtesy, etiquette, civility, courtliness, and curtesy of England.