[court] n, often attrib [ME, fr. OF, fr. L cohort-, cohors enclosure, group, retinue, cohort, fr. co- + -hort-, -hors (akin to hortus garden)--more at yard] (12c) 1 a: the residence or establishment of a sovereign or similar dignitary b: a sovereign's formal assembly of councillors and officers c: the sovereign and officers and advisers who are the governing power d: the family and retinue of a sovereign e: a reception held by a sovereign
2. a (1): a manor house or large building surrounded by usu. enclosed grounds (2): motel b: an open space enclosed wholly or partly by buildings or circumscribed by a single building c: a quadrangular space walled or marked off for playing one of various games with a ball (as lawn tennis, handball, or basketball); also: a division of such a court d: a wide alley with only one opening onto a street 3 a: an official assembly for the transaction of judicial business b: a session of such a court "~ is now adjourned" c: a place (as a chamber) for the administration of justice d: a judge or judges in session; also: a faculty or agency of judgment or evaluation "rest our case in the ~ of world opinion --L. H. Marks"
4. a: an assembly or board with legislative or administrative powers b: parliament, legislature
5: conduct or attention intended to win favor or dispel hostility: homage "pay ~ to the king"
[2]court vt (1571) 1 a: to seek to gain or achieve b (1): allure, tempt (2): to act so as to invite or provoke "~s disaster"
2. a: to seek the affections of; esp: to seek to win a pledge of marriage from b of an animal: to perform actions in order to attract for mating 3 a: to seek to attract (as by solicitous attention or offers of advantages) "college teams ~ing high school basketball stars" b: to seek an alliance with ~ vi 1: to engage in social activities leading to engagement and marriage
2. of an animal: to engage in activity leading to mating