Adjacent Words

Polite definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

POLI'TE, a. [L. politus, polished, from polio, supra.]
1. Literally, smooth, glossy, and used in this sense till within a century.
Rays of light falling on a polite surface.
[This application of the word is, I believe, entirely obsolete.]
2. Being polished or elegant in manners; refined in behavior; well bred.
He marries, bows at court and grows polite.
3. Courteous; complaisant; obliging.
His manners were warm without insincerity, and polite without pomp.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc. [ant: impolite]
2: marked by refinement in taste and manners; "cultivated speech"; "cultured Bostonians"; "cultured tastes"; "a genteel old lady"; "polite society" [syn: civilized, civilised, cultivated, cultured, genteel, polite]
3: not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages and sufficient but not noteworthy consideration for others; "even if he didn't like them he should have been civil"- W.S. Maugham [syn: civil, polite] [ant: rude, uncivil]

Merriam Webster's

adjective (politer; -est) Etymology: Middle English (Scots) polit, Latin politus, from past participle of polire Date: 15th century 1. a. of, relating to, or having the characteristics of advanced culture b. marked by refined cultural interests and pursuits especially in arts and belles lettres 2. a. showing or characterized by correct social usage b. marked by an appearance of consideration, tact, deference, or courtesy c. marked by a lack of roughness or crudities <polite literature> Synonyms: see civil • politely adverb • politeness noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. (politer, politest) 1 having good manners; courteous. 2 cultivated, cultured. 3 refined, elegant (polite letters). Derivatives: politely adv. politeness n. Etymology: L politus (as POLISH)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Polite Po*lite", a. [Compar. Politer; superl. Politest.] [L. politus, p. p. of polire to polish: cf. F. poli. See Polish, v.] 1. Smooth; polished. [Obs.] Rays of light falling on a polite surface. --Sir I. Newton. 2. Smooth and refined in behavior or manners; well bred; courteous; complaisant; obliging; civil. He marries, bows at court, and grows polite. --Pope. 3. Characterized by refinement, or a high degree of finish; as, polite literature. --Macaulay. Syn: Polished; refined; well bred; courteous; affable; urbane; civil; courtly; elegant; genteel.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Polite Po*lite", v. t. To polish; to refine; to render polite. [Obs.] --Ray.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(politer, politest) 1. Someone who is polite has good manners and behaves in a way that is socially correct and not rude to other people. Everyone around him was trying to be polite, but you could tell they were all bored... It's not polite to point or talk about strangers in public... Gately, a quiet and very polite young man, made a favourable impression... I hate having to make polite conversation. ? rude ADJ • politely 'Your home is beautiful,' I said politely... ? rudely ADV: usu ADV with v, also ADV adj • politeness She listened to him, but only out of politeness. 2. You can refer to people who consider themselves to be socially superior and to set standards of behaviour for everyone else as polite society or polite company. Certain words are vulgar and not acceptable in polite society. ADJ: ADJ n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. Accomplished, genteel, cultivated, refined, courteous, civil, affable, complaisant, courtly, gracious, urbane, polished, well-behaved, well-mannered, well-bred, elegant, obliging.

Moby Thesaurus

accommodating, affable, agreeable, attentive, civil, complaisant, considerate, cordial, courteous, deferential, diplomatic, fair, formal, genteel, graceful, gracious, mannerly, obliging, polished, proper, respectful, solicitous, tactful, thoughtful, urbane, well-mannered