Attractive courtier seen every now and then (4)
I believe the answer is:
cute
'attractive' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'courtier seen every now and then' is the wordplay.
'seen every now and then' means one should take alternating letters.
The alternate letters of 'courtier' are 'CUTE'.
(Other definitions for cute that I've seen before include "Pretty and attractive" , "Appealing -- cunning" , "Quaintly pleasing" , "Small and attractive - cunning" , "winning" .)