Nearby Words

urbane

[ur-beyn] Origin

ur·bane

[ur-beyn]
adjective
1.
having the polish and suavity regarded as characteristic of sophisticated social life in major cities: an urbane manner.
2.
reflecting elegance, sophistication, etc., especially in expression: He maintained an urbane tone in his letters.

Origin:
1525–35; (< Middle French urbain) < Latin urbānus (see urban; for difference in stress and second syllable compare human, humane)

ur·bane·ly, adverb
ur·bane·ness, noun
un·ur·bane, adjective
un·ur·bane·ly, adverb

urban, urbane.


1. suave, cosmopolitan.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Urbane is an SAT word you need to know.
So is steadfast. Does it mean:
fixed in direction, firm in purpose, resolution, faith or attachment; unwavering
to begin or to introduce into the knowledge of some art or subject
Collins
World English Dictionary
urbane (ɜːˈbeɪn)
 
adj
characterized by elegance or sophistication
 
[C16: from Latin urbānus belonging to the town; see urban]
 
ur'banely
 
adv
 
ur'baneness
 
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

urbane
1530s, "of or relating to cities or towns," from M.Fr. urbain (14c.), from L. urbanus "belonging to a city," also "citified, elegant" (see urban). The meaning "having the manners of townspeople, courteous, refined" is first attested 1620s. Urbanity in this sense is recorded
EXPAND
from 1530s. For sense connection, cf. human/humane.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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