I’ve noticed the words “courtesy” and “curtsy” seem kind of similar. Is there a reason for that? Are they related in some way, or is it just a coincidence? I’m curious about the history or origin of these words.
The words “courtesy” and “curtsy” are actually connected in a surprising way!
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Courtesy is a noun that refers to polite or respectful behavior.
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Curtsy (also spelled curtsey) is a noun or verb that describes a formal action where a woman bends her knees and bows her head as a greeting.
Though they seem like separate words, “curtsy” actually evolved from “courtesy.” Over time, the pronunciation of “courtesy” changed due to a linguistic phenomenon called syncope, where sounds get dropped in the middle of a word. That’s how we ended up with “curtsy” as a separate word for this specific kind of polite gesture.
