/ ˈkɜːtiəs; NAmE ˈkɜːrt-/ adjective
polite, especially in a way that shows respect :
a courteous young man
The hotel staff are friendly and courteous.
OPP discourteous
► cour·te·ous·ly adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (meaning having manners fit for a royal court ): from Old French corteis , based on Latin cohors yard, retinue. The change in the ending in the 16th cent. was due to association with words ending in -eous .