Definition of "courtly"

Corin: You have too courtly a wit for me; I’ll rest.

c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene ii]

[…] you must give men of Quality leave to speak in a Language more Gentile and Courtly than the ordinary sort of mankind.

1682, Aphra Behn, “The Roundheads or, The Good Old Cause”, in et al.‎, London: D. Brown, act III, scene 1, page 23

He is a Master of Civility, no less well-bred to his own Sex than courtly to the other.

1715–1720, Homer, [Alexander] Pope, transl., “Book 3”, in The Iliad of Homer, volumes (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], page 11

As they abased themselves before him, Mr. Micawber took a seat, and waved his hand in his most courtly manner.

1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, chapter 17, in The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, page 183

Their voices, the gestures of their refined grimy hands, were unbelievably courtly, delicate. Their carriage suggested the majesty of Aztec princes, their faces obscure sculpturings on Yucatecan ruins.

1947, Malcolm Lowry, chapter 1, in Under the Volcano, New York: Reynal & Hitchcock, page 11

in houres secure from courtly strife

a. 1627, John Beaumont, “Horat. Lib. 2. Sat. 6.”, in Bosworth-Field with a Taste of the Variety of Other Poems‎, London: Henry Seile, page 40

The rich are in general slaves to fear, and submit to courtly power with the trembling duplicity of a spaniel.

1776, Thomas Paine, Common Sense‎, Philadelphia, page 40

He had for years held some clerical office appertaining to courtly matters, which had enabled him to live in London,

1857, Anthony Trollope, chapter 3, in Barchester Towers‎, volume 1, London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts, page 30

Here FLATT’RY, eldest born of guile,Weaves with rare skill the silken smile,The courtly cringe, the supple bow,The private squeeze, the Levee vow,

1763, Charles Churchill, “The Duellist”, in et al.‎, London: G. Kearsly, Book 3, p. 29

That judgment James had notoriously obtained […] by dismissing scrupulous magistrates, and by placing on the bench other magistrates more courtly.

1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter 7, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volumes (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, page 152

Then will I deck thee Princely, instruct thee courtly,And present thee to the Queene as my gift.

1598, Robert Greene, The Scottish Historie of James the Fourth‎, London, act I, scene 1

[…] where, in the name of wonder, have you learn’d to talk so courtly?

1673, John Dryden, The Assignation‎, London: Henry Herringman, act II, scene 3, page 17

Very courtly and correctly spoken on all sides, my lord;

1766, Elizabeth Griffith, The Double Mistake, London: J. Almon et al., Act I, Scene 3, p. 12

The driver waited courtly by the open doors of the saloon.

1980, Anthony Burgess, chapter 74, in Earthly Powers‎, New York: Simon & Schuster, page 661