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What is "courtesy title"

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Courtesy title

Courtesy \Cour"te*sy\ (k?r"t?-s?), n.; pl. Courtesies (-s?z). [OE. cortaisie, corteisie, courtesie, OF. curteisie, cortoisie, OF. curteisie, cortoisie, F. courtoisie, fr. curteis, corteis. See Courteous.]

  1. Politeness; civility; urbanity; courtliness.

    And trust thy honest-offered courtesy, With oft is sooner found in lowly sheds, With smoky rafters, than in tapestry walls And courts of princes, where it first was named, And yet is most pretended.
    --Milton.

    Pardon me, Messer Claudio, if once more I use the ancient courtesies of speech.
    --Longfellow.

  2. An act of civility or respect; an act of kindness or favor performed with politeness.

    My lord, for your many courtesies I thank you.
    --Shak.

  3. Favor or indulgence, as distinguished from right; as, a title given one by courtesy.

    Courtesy title, a title assumed by a person, or popularly conceded to him, to which he has no valid claim; as, the courtesy title of Lord prefixed to the names of the younger sons of noblemen.

    Syn: Politeness; urbanity; civility; complaisance; affability; courteousness; elegance; refinement; courtliness; good breeding. See Politeness.

Wikipedia
Courtesy title

In the context of nobility, a courtesy title is a title that is not a substantive title but rather is used through custom or courtesy.

In some contexts, courtesy title is used to mean the more general concept of a title or honorific such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., Miss, Sir, and Madam.

Usage examples of "courtesy title".

In adulthood, admittedly something of a courtesy title in his case, they offered the constant, autonomous possibility of escape, whenever you wanted, and whatever you wanted that to mean: from a spontaneous cheap winter week in Hammamet to, well .

Cheiron replied, using the same courtesy title she had greeted him with.