courtship

IPA: kˈɔrtʃɪp

(countable, uncountable) The act of paying court, that is, demonstrating such politeness and respect as is traditionally given at a court (“a formal assembly of a sovereign's retinue”).
(obsolete) The ceremonial performance of acts of courtesy to a dignitary, etc.
The act of wooing a person to enter into a romantic relationship or marriage; hence, the period during which a couple fall in love before their marriage.
(by extension) The behaviour exhibited by an animal to attract a mate.
(figuratively) The act of trying to solicit a favour or support from someone.
(countable, uncountable, obsolete) Elegance or propriety of manners fitting for a court; courtliness; (by extension) courteous or polite behaviour; courtesy.
(uncountable, obsolete) The pursuit of being a courtier, such as exercising diplomacy, finesse, etc.; also, the artifices and intrigues of a court; courtcraft.

Examples of "courtship" in Sentences

Much of the backstory about the Sarah-Shiloh courtship comes from a novella
Such enamoured public courtship is displayed that it makes me blush even to watch.
An African electric fish, Brienomyrus brachyistius, uses its weak electric signals in courtship behavior.
The more formalized process of courtship is completely alien to me. das memsen replied to comment from bkad
Their courtship is buried, but evidence of Martha and Barend's marriage is clear: 13 children, 12 guided to adulthood.
"'That's what I call courtship at long taw,' s 'I."'Yes, Miss Jane,' se 'she,' it is, and I'm in a great deal of trouble about Jack.
Long courtship is a price paid for increasing the chance that mating, if it occurs, will be a harmonious match which benefits both sexes.
In real life, though, although one hears of whirlwind romances and sudden marriages (often followed by whirlwind separations and sudden divorces) courtship is often a very drawn-out affair.
The answer, he says, seems to be that longer courtship is a way for the female to acquire information about the male: the new mathematical model shows that an extended courtship enables females to screen out males who are unsuitable to mate with -- and give males an opportunity to signal that, no, in fact they are very suitable.