Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Courteous \Cour"te*ous\ (k?r"t?-?s; 277), a. [OE. cortais,
   corteis, cortois, rarely corteous, OF. corties, corteis, F.
   courtois. See {Court}.]
   Of courtlike manners; pertaining to, or expressive of,
   courtesy; characterized by courtesy; civil; obliging; well
   bred; polite; affable; complaisant.

         A patient and courteous bearing.         --Prescott.

         His behavior toward his people is grave and courteous.
                                                  --Fuller.

Source : WordNet®

courteous
     adj 1: exhibiting courtesy and politeness; "a nice gesture" [syn: {gracious},
             {nice}]
     2: characterized by courtesy and gracious good manners; "if a
        man be gracious and courteous to strangers it shows he is
        a citizen of the world"-Francis Bacon [ant: {discourteous}]