“courts” is a form of
court
UK /ˈkɔːt/ · US /ˈkɔɹt/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms courts courting courted
- noun An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley. “The girls were playing in the court.”
- noun (Australia, US) A street with no outlet, a cul-de-sac.
- noun (Hong Kong, only used in names) A housing estate under the Home Ownership Scheme.
- noun (Hong Kong, only used in names) An apartment building, or a small development of several apartment buildings.
- noun The residence of a sovereign, prince, nobleman, or other dignitary; a palace. “The noblemen visited the queen in her court.”
- noun The collective body of persons composing the retinue of a sovereign or person high in authority; all the surroundings of a sovereign in his regal state. “The queen and her court traveled to the city to welcome back the soldiers.”
- noun Any formal assembling of the retinue of a sovereign.
- noun Attention directed to a person in power; behaviour designed to gain favor; politeness of manner; civility towards someone.
- verb (transitive) To seek to achieve or win (a prize). “He was courting big new accounts that previous salesmen had not attempted.”
- verb (transitive) To risk (a consequence, usually negative). “She courted controversy with her frank speeches.”
- verb (transitive) To attempt to attract, in any way; to invite by attractions.
- verb (transitive) To try to win a commitment to marry from.
- verb (transitive) To engage in behavior conducive to mating with. “The bird was courting a potential mate by performing an elaborate dance.”
- verb (transitive) To attempt to gain alliance with.
- verb (intransitive) To engage in activities intended to win affections. “She's had a few beaus come courting.”
- proper noun A surname from Middle English for someone who worked or lived in a court.
- proper noun Nickname for someone named Courtney.
- proper noun A municipality in Bern canton, Switzerland.
Synonyms
courthouse courtroom court of justice tribunal court of law judicatory entice allure arrest attract becharm beguile bewitch beckon captivate charm delight draw effascinate enchant judicature royal court Margaret Court motor hotel motor inn motor lodge tourist court lawcourt courtyard homage
Etymology
From Middle English court, from Old French cort, curt, from Late Latin cōrs, contracted from Latin cohors. Doublet of cohort.
Professional tennis players playing on a tennis court (noun sense 5) in New Delhi, India
* As an English and French surname, from the noun court. Also from the French adjective court (“short”).
* As an Irish surname, reduced from McCourt.
Webster’s 1913
- noun An inclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different building; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.
- noun The residence of a sovereign, prince, nobleman, or ether dignitary; a palace.
- verb To endeavor to gain the favor of by attention or flattery; to try to ingratiate one's self with.
- verb To endeavor to gain the affections of; to seek in marriage; to woo. If either of you both love Katharina . . . leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. Shak.
Etymology [OF. court, curt, cort, F. co, LL. cortis, fr. L. cohors, cors, chors, gen. cohortis, cortis, chortis, an inclosure, court, thing inclosed, crowd, throng; co- + a root akin to Gr. garden, yard, orchard. See Yard, and cf. Cohort, Curtain.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “court”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details