civil often suggests little more than the avoidance of overt rudeness.
owed the questioner a civil reply
polite commonly implies polish of speech and manners and sometimes suggests an absence of cordiality.
if you can't be pleasant, at least be polite
courteous implies more actively considerate or dignified politeness.
clerks who were unfailingly courteous to customers
gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness especially to women.
gallant suggests spirited and dashing behavior and ornate expressions of courtesy.
a gallant suitor of the old school
chivalrous suggests high-minded and self-sacrificing behavior.
a chivalrous display of duty
Example Sentences
There was no doubt that his stubbornly held and trenchantly expressed views—his trenchancy always tempered, however, by his gently courteous manner—contributed significantly to his unpopularity … Simon Winchester, The Man Who Loved China, 2008… she has seen generations of boys come and go, some well groomed and courteous, others rough and uppity … Julian Barnes, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 1990He joined us in the Yellow Room with … his son, a thoughtful, courteous, nice doctor … Lady Bird Johnson27 May 1964, in A White House Diary, 1970 The clerks were helpful and courteous. their customer service department always gives courteous responses, even to rude people
Recent Examples on the WebTrue to form, the Brits seemed the most self-effacing, reckoning that just 68% of their fellow drivers paid attention, and under half being calm and courteous. Julia Buckley, CNN, 27 May 2022 Palou very well may have been courteous during in-person conversations, and his lawyers may have used a very different tone and message officially in writing. Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Aug. 2022 Also, the 2 gentlemen working that day were the kindest and most courteous men. Brenda Cain And Yadi Rodriguez - Cleveland.com, cleveland, 4 Aug. 2022 But generations have been raised into courteous adults without formal investigations and allegations of federal offense. Rick Esenberg And Luke Berg, WSJ, 23 May 2022 My downstairs neighbor was a courteous young man who drove a Lexus and kept a pair of pet monkeys.San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2022 Still, Psaki has reestablished the tradition of a generally courteous back-and-forth between the White House and the press. Tyler Pager, Anchorage Daily News, 5 May 2022 What is a proper and courteous response for me in these situations? Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 13 July 2022 In it, Hall played a wise and courteous itinerate gambler named Sydney who schools a young drifter (John C. Reilly) on the craft. Jake Coyle, BostonGlobe.com, 13 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English corteis, from Anglo-French curteis, from curt
VERBS | ADVERB | PREPOSITIONVERBS➤be, seem彬彬有禮;看起來謙恭有禮ADVERB➤extremely, fairly, very, etc.極其/相當/非常禮貌▸➤unfailingly總是彬彬有禮◇She was unfailingly courteous and helpful.她無論什麼時候都是彬彬有禮,樂於助人。PREPOSITION➤to對⋯禮貌的◇He was perfectly courteous to me.他對我彬彬有禮,無可挑剔。