Court, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Courted; p. pr. & vb. n. Courting.]
1. To endeavor to gain the favor of by attention or flattery; to try to ingratiate one's self with.
By one person, hovever, Portland was still assiduously courted. --Macaulay.
2. To endeavor to gain the affections of; to seek in marriage; to woo.
If either of you both love Katharina . . .
Leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. --Shak.
3. To attempt to gain; to solicit; to seek.
They might almost seem to have courted the crown of martyrdom. --Prescott.
Guilt and misery . . . court privacy and solitude. --De Quincey.
4. To invite by attractions; to allure; to attract.
A well-worn pathway courted us
To one green wicket in a privet hedge. --Tennyson.
courting
n : a man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a
woman (usually with the hope of marriage); "its was a
brief and intense courtship" [syn: courtship, wooing,
suit]