Comity

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkÉ’mɪti/
• Homophones: comedy (in accents with flapping)

Origin

From French comité, from Latin comitas, from comis ("courteous")

Full definition of comity

Noun

1. Courtesy and considerate behaviour towards others; social harmony.
• 1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom, Abacus 2010, p. 96:There, I saw not only flare-ups of ethnic animosity, but the comity that was also possible among men of different backgrounds.
2. Friendly understanding and mutual recognition between two entities, especially nations.
• Houston ChronicleDemocrats took control of the House and Senate after 12 years of nearly unbroken Republican rule, with resolute calls for bipartisan comity and a pledge to move quickly on an agenda of health care, homeland security, education and energy proposals.

Synonyms

• frith