Basic Details
Word: Courtier
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A person who spent time at the court of a king or queen as an adviser or companion.
Synonyms: attendant, noble, aide
How to Spell Courtier
Syllables: cour - ti - er
Tricky part: It starts with court, spelt our, and ends in -ier. Students write cortier, or use -eir at the end.
Watch out for: cortier, courtyer, courteir
Memory tip: A courtier works at the royal court: write court first, then the three letters ier.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The courtier whispered a warning into the queen's ear.
Example 2: Many courtiers tried to win the queen's favour with gifts.
Example 3: In the play, a clever courtier saves the king from a trap.
Fun Fact
Birbal is remembered as one of the nine gems, or navaratnas, at the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar, and many folk tales celebrate his quick wit.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
courttier
a) r
b) t
c) u
d) i
Show answer
b) t. Court ends in a single t, and ier follows straight after it.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word courtier as used in the sentence:
The courtier bowed low before the Maharaja and handed him the sealed letter.
a) enemy
b) attendant
c) farmer
d) merchant
Show answer
b) attendant. A courtier waits upon a ruler at court, as an attendant does.
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. jester 2. chamberlain 3. cortier 4. emissary
a) a person who attends a king or queen at court
b) an officer who manages a royal household
c) a person sent with an official message
d) a person kept at court to make people laugh
Show answer
a) a person who attends a king or queen at court. Chamberlain, emissary and jester are fine; courtier needs the our of court.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where would you have found a courtier in the past?
a) at a weekly market
b) in a village field
c) at a king's palace
d) on a fishing boat
Show answer
c) at a king's palace
2. Courtier and courteous both come from court. Courteous means ____.
a) loud and rude
b) polite and respectful
c) brave and strong
d) rich and proud
Show answer
b) polite and respectful
