po·lite

[puh-lahyt]
adjective, po·lit·er, po·lit·est.
1.
showing good manners toward others, as in behavior, speech, etc.; courteous; civil: a polite reply.
2.
refined or cultured: polite society.
3.
of a refined or elegant kind: polite learning.

Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin polītus, past participle of polīre to polish

po·lite·ly, adverb
po·lite·ness, noun
su·per·po·lite, adjective
su·per·po·lite·ly, adverb
su·per·po·lite·ness, noun


1. well-bred, gracious. See civil. 2. urbane, polished, poised, courtly, cultivated.


1, 2. rude.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To politeness
00:10
Politeness is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
Collins
World English Dictionary
polite (pəˈlaɪt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  showing regard for others, in manners, speech, behaviour, etc; courteous
2.  cultivated or refined: polite society
3.  elegant or polished: polite letters
 
[C15: from Latin polītus polished; see polish]
 
po'litely
 
adv
 
po'liteness
 
n

polite (pəˈlaɪt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  showing regard for others, in manners, speech, behaviour, etc; courteous
2.  cultivated or refined: polite society
3.  elegant or polished: polite letters
 
[C15: from Latin polītus polished; see polish]
 
po'litely
 
adv
 
po'liteness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

polite
1263, from L. politus "refined, elegant," lit. "polished," pp. of polire "to polish, to make smooth." Used literally at first in Eng.; sense of "elegant, cultured" is first recorded 1501, that of "behaving courteously" is 1762.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Common courtesy and politeness are guides to the actions of jurors.
Both have soft, sandpapery voices and a stern politeness when they speak.
Old notions of politeness, friendliness and respect need to be reestablished.
These patterns are explained, with examples, and discussed in light of research
  on politeness behavior.
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