An archaic or variant spelling of courteous; polite, respectful, and considerate in behavior toward others.
From Old French corteis, from Latin cohortis (court). The spelling 'curteous' represents a Middle English variant spelling before 'courteous' became standardized.
The path from Latin cohortis (farmyard/courtyard) to 'courteous' shows how 'court behavior' became synonymous with politeness—apparently medieval nobility wanted to be thought well-mannered!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.