[f. COURT sb.1 Cf. Old It. corteare, OF. cortoyer to be or reside at court (f. corte, court COURT), later It. corteggiare, F. courtiser in senses 3, 4: cf. COURTESAN.]
I. † 1. intr. To be or reside at court, to frequent the court. Obs.
1515. [see COURTING 1].
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 390. The king reteyned unto him a gard of Archers of Chesshire … And after these rusticall people had a while Courted, they entered into so great a boldnesse, that they would not let [etc.].
† 2. To court it: To play or act the courtier. Obs. (Cf. to coach it, foot it, etc.)
1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 176. When we see one gaie and gallaunt, we use to saie, he courtes it.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 4. To instruct them to become as bold as souldiers, to court it like curtezans.
1619. Sir J. Sempill, Sacrilege Handled, Ep. Ded. 2. It goeth neuer better, then when the Church Courteth it, and the Court Churcheth it.
1657. J. Smith, Myst. Rhet., 74. I can not Court it, I can not Italian it, (i. e.) I can not perform the duty or manners of a Courtier.
II. 3. trans. To pay court to, pay courteous attention to; to try to win favor with.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 34. A lovely bevy of faire Ladies sate, Courted of many a jolly Paramoure.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Rem. Wks. (1660), 39. Our unletter’d Grand-fathers were wont to court God Almighty with false Latin.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 362. To flatter kings, or court the great.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 218. While the king was thus courting his old adversaries.
1883. Sir T. Martin, Ld. Lyndhurst, viii. 200. A man … sure to be courted in the best London society.
b. absol.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., II. ii. 15. She led him vp into a goodly boure And comely courted with meet modestie.
4. To pay amorous attention to, seek to gain the affections of, make love to (with a view to marriage), pay addresses to, woo. (Now somewhat homely; also poet.)
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 353. To picke out those that can court you, not those that loue you.
1589. Warner, Alb. Engl., VI. xxxi. (1612), 156. With rufull lookes, sighes … and Fooleries more than few I courted her.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., III. 4. While he Neæra courts, but courts in vain, And fears that I the Damsel shall obtain.
1722. De Foe, Relig. Courtsh., I. ii. (1840), 102. She declares she will not marry, no, not if a peer of the realm courted her.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 201, ¶ 11. He courted a young lady.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 353. There they … had made their friendships, had courted their wives.
1873. R. Bridges, Poems (1891), I. v. I heard a linnet courting His lady in the spring.
1878. Black, Green Past., I. 1. A young man had come courting the earl’s daughter.
b. absol.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., III. i. 85. Long agone I haue forgot to court. Ibid. (1596), Tam. Shr., IV. ii. 27. See how they kisse and court.
1601. Weever, Mirr. Mart., B v b. But how he courted … And how the fauour of this Nimph he wonne.
1785. Burns, Young Peggy, 14. When feather’d pairs are courting.
1858. Kingsley, Poems, Starling, 7. When we and our mates were courting merrily!
c. fig. and transf. Cf. to woo.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VII. 329. Our Boate ready to court the shoare.
1674. Milton, Samson, 719. Sails filled, and streamers waving, Courted by all the winds that hold them play.
1743–6. Shenstone, Elegies, vi. 27. A train of lovers court the chequer’d shade.
1764. Goldsm., Trav., 114. Fruits … That proudly rise, or humbly court the ground.
1814. Scott, Ld. of Isles, V. i. Courting the sunbeam as she plied her toil.
a. 1835. Motherwell, Poet. Wks. (1847), 1. Their broad sheets court the breeze.
5. To seek to win or attract (any one) to do something; to invite, allure, entice into, to, from, out of, etc. Cf. to woo.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., II. Wks. 1856, I. 28. Downy sleep Courts us to entertaine his company.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. xviii. 429. Opportunity courted him to procure the Empire for himself.
1655. Earl Orrery, Parthen. (1676), 688. I come not now to Court you from him.
1663. Bp. Patrick, Parab. Pilgr. A sight he had been long pursuing … but could never court it into his embraces.
1703. Pope, Thebais, 38. All the skies, ambitious of thy sway, Conspire to court thee from our world away.
1707. E. Ward, Hud. Rediv. (1715), II. v. Dear Sir … let me court ye To take a Coach, because it’s dirty.
1773. Johnson, Lett. Mrs. Thrale, 30 Sept. (1788), I. 156. An interval of calm sunshine courted us out to see a cave on the shore.
a. 1844. Campbell, Poems, Caroline, II. To Evening Star, 6. Wanton flowers that well may court An angel’s feet to tread them down.
1873. Burton, Hist. Scot., VI. lxxi. 218. Gustavus Adolphus … courted them to his standard.
6. To show oneself desirous of, to seek to win or attract, to affect (a thing).
1571. Campion, Hist. Irel., II. ix. (1633), 109. That he curtyed acquaintance and friendship vvith meere Irish enemyes.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, IV. viii. (1840), 192. Never would he have had the face to have courted the crown imperial.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., V. II. 281. Both of them courted his friendship.
1837. Ht. Martineau, Soc. Amer., II. 130. They rather court publicity for their opinions.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, viii. 79. Sylla never courted popularity.
III. 7. To sue in a court of law, to ‘put in the court.’ colloq. (Cf. county-court v.)
1847. Illustr. Lond. News, 31 July, 67/3. The usual advice when a party complains of another owing him money, is, ‘Oh, court him!’
