courted

1. 1
   verb

   Simple past tense and past participle of court.

   Both politicians courted the same group of voters during the campaign.

   She courted controversy with her outspoken remarks at the hearing.

   Note

   One regular -ed spelling serves both the past tense and the past participle. As a participle it builds perfect tenses with have (they had courted the voters for months) and passives with be (she was courted by two suitors). The verb's whole range carries over: one can have courted a partner, an ally or a prize, or controversy, when court means risking a bad outcome.

2. 2
   adjective

   Romantically pursued or wooed by a suitor seeking one's affection.

   The much-admired heiress seemed courted by every eligible gentleman in the county.

   Feeling courted at last, she let herself enjoy the attention.

   Note

   A participle that has settled into a true adjective, one that can be graded with more and most. Annette Meakin's Hannah More: A Biographical Study (1911) says Hannah was "more courted than ever" after her books succeeded, and Tolstoy's War and Peace has "no one has been more courted than she." The comparative usually comes with a comparison attached: more courted than ever, than anyone, than she.

3. 3
   adjective

   Actively encouraged or sought after by many people.

   His endorsement was the most courted prize of the election season.

   These internships remain fiercely courted positions among graduating students.

   Similarcoveted, sought-after, prized, desired

   Oppositeunwanted

   Note

   What is courted need not be a person, or even welcome. Johnson Grant's A course of sermons for the year (1833) calls disobedience "a courted anathema," a curse someone invites on themselves. Jessie Saxby's Rock-bound (1877) makes village quarrels "a courted diversion" from dull lives. The word attaches to things such as prizes, roles, distractions, and outcomes, and with the wrong noun it can suggest the seeker is asking for trouble.

4. 4
   adjective

   Drawn in by inducements from those seeking one's favor or attention.

   The new minister found himself courted by lobbyists eager for his support.

   A courted celebrity, the aging tycoon learned to distrust the flattery.

   Similarflattered

   Note

   Here the pursuit is for influence rather than love, and the adjective sits comfortably before a noun: a courted guest, a courted senate. Charles Merivale's A History of the Romans Under the Empire (1865) speaks of "a courted and therefore an indulgent senate," which captures the bargain: those who are flattered tend to grant favor in return. Context separates it from the romantic meaning. A suitor wants a heart, but a flatterer wants a favor.

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