Polite

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Polite \Po*lite"\, v. t.
     To polish; to refine; to render polite. [Obs.] --Ray.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  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.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Rays of light falling on a polite surface. --Sir I.
                                                    Newton.
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     2. Smooth and refined in behavior or manners; well bred;
        courteous; complaisant; obliging; civil.
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              He marries, bows at court, and grows polite. --Pope.
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     3. Characterized by refinement, or a high degree of finish;
        as, polite literature. --Macaulay.
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     Syn: Polished; refined; well bred; courteous; affable;
          urbane; civil; courtly; elegant; genteel.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  polite
       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}]
       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}]
          [ant: {uncivil}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  26 Moby Thesaurus words for "polite":
     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