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]