Court

n. [O. Fr. court, curt, cort, N. Fr. cour, Pr. cort, Sp., Pg., & It. corte, from chors, chortis, and cohors, cohortis, an inclosure, court, thing inclosed, crowd, throng, Gr. χορτός.]

1Sense 1. An inclosed space; a yard or area; a recess surrounded by parts of a building.

Goldsmith took a garret in a miserable court, to which he had to climb from the brink of Fleet Ditch by a dizzy ladder of flagstones, called “Breakneck Steps.” Macaulay.

2Sense 2. The residence and surroundings of a sovereign, prince, nobleman, or other dignitary; a palace.

His companion, youthful Valentine, Attends the emperor in his royal court. Shak.

3Sense 3. The collective body of persons composing the retinue of a sovereign or person high in authority.

My lord, there is a nobleman of the court at door would speak with you. Shak.

4Sense 4. The appointed assembling of the retinue of a sovereign; as, to hold a court.

5Sense 5. Attention directed to a person in power; conduct or address designed to gain favor; courteous deportment; politeness of manners; civility.

Him the prince with gentle court did board. Spenser.

No solace could her paramour entreat Her once to show, no court, nor dalliance. Spenser.

I have been considering why poets have such ill success in making their court. Swift.

6Sense 6. (Law.) (a.) The hall, chamber, or place, where justice is administered. (b.) The persons officially assembled under authority of law, at the appropriate time and place, for the administration of justice; an official assembly, legally met together for the transaction of judicial business; a judge or judges sitting for the hearing or trial of causes. (c.) A tribunal established for the administration of justice. (d.) The judge or judges, as distinguished from the counsel or jury, or both.

Most heartily do I beseech the court To give the judgment. Shak.

7Sense 7. The session of a judicial assembly.

8Sense 8. Any jurisdiction, civil, military, or ecclesiastical.

General Court, the legislature of a State;—so called from having had, in the colonial days, judicial power; as, the General Court of Massachusetts.—The courts of the Lord, the temple at Jerusalem; hence, a church, or Christian house of worship.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. COURTED; p. pr. & vb. n. COURTING.] 1. To endeavor to gain the favor of by attention or flattery; to ingratiate one's self with; to pay court to. While the king was thus courting his old adversaries, the friends of the church were not less active. Macaulay. 2. To seek the affections of; to seek in marriage; to solicit the hand of; to woo. If either of you love Katharina . . . Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. Shak. 3. To attempt to gain by address; to solicit; to seek. They might almost seem to have courted the crown of martyrdom. Prescott.

To act the courtier; to imitate the manners of the court. [Rare.] Laud.