Definition of "comity" [com•i•ty]

• An atmosphere of social harmony. (noun)
• See comity of nations. (noun)
• The principle by which the courts of one jurisdiction may accede or give effect to the laws or decisions of another. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "FRANKEN: You know it's -- the Senate is an institution that prides itself on what it calls comity, to be distinguished from comedy, but comity, which means intense politeness no matter what, no matter how insincere."
• "Therefore we cannot fit Greece into the jig-saw puzzle which we call the comity of nations."
• "Then Ansari, a member of the parliament took the floor and talked about the "fact finding" committee and the fact that everyone in that comity is an Ahmadinejad supporter and therefore questioned the legitimacy of the committee."