from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Comity \Com"i*ty\, n.; pl. {Comities}. [L. comitas, fr. comis
courteous, kind.]
Mildness and suavity of manners; courtesy between equals;
friendly civility; as, comity of manners; the comity of
States.
[1913 Webster]
{Comity of nations} (International Law), the courtesy by
which nations recognize within their own territory, or in
their courts, the peculiar institutions of another nation
or the rights and privileges acquired by its citizens in
their own land. By some authorities private international
law rests on this comity, but the better opinion is that
it is part of the common law of the land, and hence is
obligatory as law.
Syn: Civility; good breeding; courtesy; good will.
[1913 Webster]