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Courtly vs Gentlemanly - What's the difference?

courtly | gentlemanly | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between courtly and gentlemanly

is that courtly is suitable for a royal court; refined, dignified while gentlemanly is of, being, pertaining to, or resembling a gentleman or gentlemen.

As an adverb gentlemanly is

in the manner or with the behavior of a gentleman; with social grace, politely.

courtly

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Suitable for a royal court; refined, dignified.
  • * 1598 , , III. ii. 666:
    • Corin. You have too courtly a wit for me; I’ll rest.
  • Obsequious, flattering.
    • (Macaulay)

    gentlemanly

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of, being, pertaining to, or resembling a gentleman or gentlemen.
  • * 2010 , Catherine Rampell, “ In Law Schools, Grades Go Up, Just Like That”, in The New York Times , 2010 June 22, page A1:
    • Some schools bump up everyone’s grades, some just allow for more As and others all but eliminate the once-gentlemanly C.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In the manner or with the behavior of a gentleman; with social grace, politely.
  • * 1938 , Charles A. Johnson, A Narrative History of Wise County, Virginia (page 165)
    • He went gentlemanly dressed in East Virginia style, wore a high-top silk hat, as had lawyer Park, and sported a gold headed walking cane.

    Derived terms

    * (l)