Courtesy
Etymology
From Old French corteisie "courtly manners," from cortois "having the manners of a court," from cort "court." Courtesy is literally court-behavior: the refined conduct expected of those at a royal court, later extended to everyone. Its root reveals politeness as originally a marker of class.
noun · /KUR-tuh-see/
Polite, considerate behavior toward others in ordinary dealings.
What it names
A handle for the small active gestures of regard — holding a door, a thank-you note — the warm, individual expression of good manners.
Example
He had the courtesy to warn them the road was closed before they drove all the way out.
Related idea
Distinct from civility: courtesy is warm and voluntary, an act of positive regard for a particular person; civility is the cooler baseline of respectful conduct we owe even to strangers and opponents. You extend courtesy to a friend; you maintain civility toward someone you dislike.