comity
UK[ˈkɒmɪti]US[ˈkɑːmɪti]
n
an atmosphere of social harmony and mutual courtesy, especially between different groups or nations.
Etymology
the word "comity" entered english in the mid-16th century, directly from the latin cōmitās, meaning "courtesy" or "friendliness." this latin noun is derived from cōmis, an adjective signifying "courteous," "kind," or "obliging." the semantic core of the word has remained remarkably stable, evolving from a general sense of personal courtesy in latin to a more specialized modern english meaning denoting the formal, courteous, and cooperative conduct observed between political entities, organizations, or social groups. its legal application, "comity of nations," refers to the mutual recognition of laws and judicial decisions as a matter of courtesy and respect, not obligation.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword from latin. it is not productively formed from smaller, recognizable english morphemes.
Examples
the two departments maintained a spirit of comity during the difficult negotiations.
international comity requires nations to respect each other's sovereign decisions.
the meeting was conducted with great comity, despite the underlying disagreements.