verb
court
To seek someone's favor or invite a particular response.
The candidate courts undecided voters by listening to their concerns.
Etymology
Latin cohors lies behind court’s development from an enclosure to a ruler’s household. Seeking favor in that setting gave court its broader sense of cultivating approval or inviting a response.
More examples
- He courts her with thoughtful letters and small gifts.
- Ignoring these warnings courts disaster.
- The museum is courting donors to fund its expansion.
Forms
court · courts · courted · courting
courtship noun — The process of seeking a romantic relationship.