本文经授权转载自微信公众号：田间小站
CET6 TEM8
外刊例句
- The islanders are courteous enough, but their evasions and denials bamboozle the buttoned-up sergeant.
岛民们很有礼貌，但他们的回避和否认却让这位沉默寡言的中士感到困惑。
——《经济学人》 - White House aides say they expect the president to try to refrain from criticism during the transition because of his belief in the importance of a courteous and dignified transfer of power.
白宫幕僚们说，他们估计总统会在过渡时期内克制自己不去批评，因为他相信礼貌且有尊严的权力移交是非常重要的。
——《纽约时报》
基本释义
[adjective] polite, respectful, or considerate in manner
[形容词] 举止礼貌、尊重或体贴的
深入解读
从拼写上来看， courteous 是一个与小站（微信公众号：田间小站）推送过的 outrageous 有着相同结尾的单词，两者可以一并联想记忆。
从词源上来看， courteous 一词源自古法语 curteis （有礼貌的举止或风度的），最早于14世纪进入英语，也是用来表示“有礼貌的、客气的”，特别是“恭敬的、殷勤的、谦恭有礼的”，常意味着言谈举止谦恭有礼且典雅庄重，主动体贴他人的感情与尊严。比如：
- 谦词
courteous words - 哈里是个谦逊而且彬彬有礼的绅士。
Harry was a humble, courteous and gentle man. - 他们彬彬有礼但又有些冷漠。他们的公司是一个庞大而不讲人情的组织。
They were courteous but faintly aloof. Their company was a vast impersonal organization.
名著用例
Still he was a courteous old chap. Oldfashioned way he used to bow Molly off the platform.
尽管如此，他不失为一个彬彬有礼的老头儿。当摩莉从舞台上退场时，他总是照老规矩向她鞠个躬。
出自爱尔兰现代主义作家詹姆斯·乔伊斯（James Joyce）于1922年出版的长篇小说《尤利西斯》（Ulysses）。
同近义词
- polite: having or showing behaviour that is respectful and considerate of other people
- civil: courteous and polite
- courtly: very polite or refined, as befitting a royal court
