court
court
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "court" is /kɔːrt/.
/kɔːrt/ (one syllable)
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/ɔː/ - open-mid back rounded vowel (as in "thought")
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/t/ - voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: court
Plural Noun: courts
Present Tense Verb (third person singular): courts
Present Participle Verb: courting
Past Tense Verb: courted
Past Participle Verb: courted
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A formal assembly for the transaction of judicial business; a tribunal.
Example: The accused appeared before the court to hear the charges against him.
Synonyms: tribunal, judiciary, judicature, bench
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "arbitration" or "mediation" might be considered outside of a formal court setting, but not true antonyms.)
An area marked out for playing certain games, such as tennis or basketball.
Example: They spent the afternoon playing a spirited game of tennis on the clay court.
Synonyms: arena, field, pitch, ground
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "stands" or "spectator area" are related but not opposites.)
The residence of a sovereign or noble; a royal household.
Example: The ambassadors were presented at the royal court.
Synonyms: palace, residence, household, retinue
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific sense.)
A quadrangle or open space, often surrounded by buildings.
Example: The historic buildings enclosed a peaceful inner court.
Synonyms: courtyard, quadrangle, plaza, square
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "street" or "thoroughfare" are different types of open spaces but not opposites.)
An act of seeking the favor, affection, or love of someone, especially with a view to marriage; courtship.
Example: He was in court with her for several months before proposing.
Synonyms: courtship, wooing, pursuing, romancing
Antonyms: spurning, rejecting, neglecting
Verb
To attempt to gain the favor or affection of (someone); to woo.
Example: He tried to court her with flowers and chocolates.
Synonyms: woo, pursue, chase, romance, flatter, charm
Antonyms: spurn, reject, alienate, offend
To try to win (a person, group, or thing) over; to solicit.
Example: The politician aggressively courted the swing voters.
Synonyms: solicit, seek, cultivate, pursue, canvass
Antonyms: avoid, shun, repel, discourage
To risk incurring (something undesirable); to invite.
Example: By driving so fast, he was courting disaster.
Synonyms: invite, risk, tempt, provoke, encourage
Antonyms: avoid, avert, prevent, deter
Examples of Use
Books:
"He spent years fighting for justice in the highest courts of the land, eventually seeing the wrongful conviction overturned." (Adapted from The Appeal by John Grisham)
"The young lady, accustomed to the lavish life of the court, found the simple village existence quite challenging." (Adapted from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens)
Newspapers:
"The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments next month on a landmark privacy case." ( The New York Times)
"Fans flocked to the tennis courts for the opening day of Wimbledon." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"How to Handle a Traffic Ticket in Small Claims Court" ( Nolo.com)
"Tech companies are actively courting new graduates with attractive benefits packages and innovative work environments." (Wired)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series: "She testified in court against her former employer, alleging workplace discrimination." (From an episode of The Good Fight, broadcast television)
Film: "The climactic scene takes place on a basketball court during the final seconds of the championship game." (Referring to Hoosiers, film)
Music: "He tried to court her with a serenade beneath her window, but she remained unimpressed." (Lyric from a contemporary folk song)
Video Games: "Players must navigate the political intrigues of the king's court to gain influence and complete quests." (Describing gameplay in Dragon Age: Inquisition, video game)
General Public Discourse:
"I heard they're building new pickleball courts at the community center." (Casual conversation)
"Don't court trouble by going out alone late at night in that neighborhood." (Advice given by a friend)
"The local football team really needs to court more young talent to rebuild their roster." (Discussion among sports fans)
10 Quotes Using Court
"There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts." (Mahatma Gandhi)
"When you go into court you are putting your fate into the hands of twelve people who weren't smart enough to get out of jury duty." (Norm Crosby)
"Every night on the court I give my all, and if I'm not giving 100 percent, I criticize myself." (LeBron James)
"Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever." (William Howard Taft)
"Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come." (Serena Williams)
"There is no such thing as justice - in or out of court." (Clarence Darrow)
"I have always considered tennis as a combat in an arena between two gladiators who have their racquets and their courage as their weapons." (Yannick Noah, referring to the tennis court)
"You win by effort, by commitment, by ambition, by quality, by expressing yourself individually but in the team context." (Doc Rivers, speaking about the basketball court)
"The game is never over. No matter what the scoreboard reads or what the referee says, it doesn't end when you come off the court." (Pat Summitt)
"Love rules the court, the camp, the grove, And men below, and saints above: For love is heaven, and heaven is love." (Walter Scott)
Etymology
The word "court" has a fascinating history that ties together ideas of enclosed spaces, royalty, and justice.
It first appeared in English around the late 12th century. The very first meaning was "a formal assembly held by a sovereign" (a king or queen).
The word "court" actually comes to us from the Old French word "cort" (which later became "cour"). This French word, in turn, came from the Latin word "cohors" (or "cortem," its accusative form).
Now, here's the interesting part: The original Latin "cohors" literally meant "an enclosed yard" or "a farmyard." It also referred to "those assembled in the yard" – so it could mean a group of people, like a military unit or a retinue (a group of followers).
Over time, this idea of an "enclosed space" broadened. Imagine a king holding meetings or conducting business in the courtyard of his palace. This led to "court" meaning the residence of the sovereign itself, and then by extension, the sovereign and their advisors who governed from that place.
From this concept of a royal assembly where the sovereign would personally oversee disputes, the meaning of "a tribunal for judicial investigation" (a court of law) developed around the 13th century.
Later on, the sense of "court" as an enclosed area for games (like a tennis court) came about in the 16th century, again drawing on that original idea of an "enclosed space." And the verb "to court" (to seek someone's favor or affection) emerged in the late 16th century, based on the kinds of polite and persuasive behavior people would engage in at a royal court.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Court
Court of public opinion: The general sentiment or judgment of the public on an issue.
Court martial: A judicial court for trying members of the armed services accused of offenses against military law.
To be in court: To be attending a legal proceeding.
To be out of court: To have settled a dispute or case without needing to go to a full trial.
To hold court: To be the center of attention, often by entertaining or lecturing a group of people.
To court disaster/trouble: To behave in a way that is very likely to lead to bad consequences.
To court favor: To try to gain the approval or support of someone.
To appeal to a higher court: To ask a more senior court to review the decision of a lower court.
To kick something out of court: To dismiss a case or idea as unworthy of consideration.
To court an audience: To try to attract and please an audience.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of court from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
