From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcourtesycour‧te‧sy1 /ˈkɜːtəsi $ ˈkɜːr-/ ●○○ noun (plural courtesies) 1 [uncountable]POLITE polite behaviour and respect for other people SYN politeness OPP discourtesy It’s a matter of common courtesy to acknowledge letters.have the courtesy to do something He didn’t even have the courtesy to call and say he couldn’t come.2 [countable]POLITE something you do or say to be polite The two men exchanged courtesies before getting down to business.3 → (by) courtesy of somebody4 → (by) courtesy of something5 → do somebody the courtesy of doing something
Examples from the Corpus
courtesy• As a courtesy to other diners, we ask that all cell phones be left at the door.• Businessmen value the service and courtesy offered by traditional hotels.• He had been a model of courtesy.• I don't think she wanted us to come and stay with her, she just offered out of courtesy.• I wish he'd had the courtesy to tell me when he was coming back.• Odds are that the other person will return the courtesy of an introduction.• When you contact a government office, you should receive efficient service and be treated with courtesy.have the courtesy to do something• The hon. Gentleman should have the courtesy to recognise that a considerable amount is being done.exchanged courtesies• When wandering over the hills we met a shepherd, exchanged courtesies, and offered him a glass. courtesycourtesy2 adjective [only before noun] 1 DLTTTCprovided free to a customer by a companycourtesy bus/taxi/car/phone etc The hotel runs a courtesy bus from the airport. Most reviewers receive a courtesy copy of the book.2 → courtesy visit/callExamples from the Corpus
courtesy bus/taxi/car/phone etc• Not all the players get courtesy cars.• He began the two-mile journey from the hotel in a courtesy car at 9.25 a.m.• Standing on the courtesy bus I watched their last-minute dash to catch the folding doors with relief.• A courtesy bus operates between the two several times a day.• A courtesy bus runs regularly into the centre of Sorrento and local buses stop nearby.From Longman Business Dictionarycourtesycour‧te‧sy1 /ˈkɜːtəsiˈkɜːr-/ adjective [only before a noun] provided free to a customer or to the publicA courtesy bus runs to the Hotel Del Levante from the airport every day.courtesycourtesy2 noun (by) courtesy of if something is provided by courtesy of someone, it is provided for free by themWe stayed in Leeds, courtesy of the Hilton Hotel.My colleague and I flew courtesy of British Midland first class to Heathrow.Origin courtesy (1200-1300) Old French corteisie, from corteis; → COURTEOUS 