courtier
/'kɔ:tjə/
Definition
Noun: - An attendant at the court of a sovereign: A person who is often in attendance at the court of a king, queen, or other royal ruler, typically as a companion or advisor. - A person who seeks favor by flattery and attention: Someone who uses flattery and obsequious behavior to gain favor, especially from a person in power.
Usage
The word "courtier" describes a person whose social and political life revolves around a royal court. Historically, courtiers were nobles or officials who attended the monarch. The term can also be used more broadly to describe anyone who is overly attentive and flattering to someone in authority to gain advantage.
Examples
- The king was surrounded by his most trusted courtiers.
- She navigated the palace politics like a skilled courtier.
- He was more than an advisor; he was a loyal courtier who had served the queen for decades.
Advanced Usage
- To play the courtier: To behave in an obsequious or flattering manner to gain favor.
- In the corporate world, he knew how to play the courtier to the CEO.
Variants and Related Words
- Court (noun): The extended household and advisors of a sovereign.
- Courtly (adjective): Polite, refined, and elegant in a manner associated with royal courts.
- Courtiership (noun): The position or conduct of a courtier.
Synonyms
- Attendant
- Retainer
- Aide
- Flatterer
- Sycophant (when emphasizing the aspect of seeking favor)
Antonyms
- Rebel
- Insurgent
- Commoner (in a strict historical social context)
Idioms and Phrases
- A courtier's smile: A smile that is insincere, given for political or personal advantage.
- He greeted his rival with a courtier's smile, hiding his true intentions.
Noun
-
an attendant at the court of a sovereign
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