What does curtseyed mean?
Curts...
verbThe past tense and past participle of curtsey: to make a respectful gesture by bending one knee and lowering the body.
- Past tense and past participle of curtsey, meaning to make a respectful gesture by bending one knee and lowering the body.
"The young performer curtseyed gracefully to the audience before leaving the stage."
"She curtseyed to the queen and stepped back."
"In the period drama, the duchess curtseyed before entering the hall."
From courtly manners to a graceful dip, the curtsey turns respect into a graceful movement.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does curtseyed come from?
Curtseyed is the past tense and past participle of curtsey. The word curtsey is historically related to courtesy and ultimately to Old French words associated with courtly and courteous behavior. Its modern sense as a formal gesture of respect developed from this older tradition of courteous conduct.
Related word forms
How curtseyed is actually used
A formal or ceremonial verb, common in traditional, historical, and literary contexts. Although a curtsey is traditionally associated especially with women, the gesture itself is not restricted by gender.
Easily confused with curtseyed
Curtseyed is the standard past-tense spelling, while curtsied is an accepted variant spelling of the same verb rather than a word with a different meaning.