POLITE • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Polite

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/pəlˈaɪt/ Listen

adjective

Polite adj. (compar. politer; superl. politest)

Smooth; polished. (Obs.) "Rays of light falling on a polite surface."

Smooth and refined in behavior or manners; well bred; courteous; complaisant; obliging; civil. "He marries, bows at court, and grows polite."

Characterized by refinement, or a high degree of finish; as, polite literature.

Synonyms: Polished; refined; well bred; courteous; affable; urbane; civil; courtly; elegant; genteel.

verb

Polite v. t. To polish; to refine; to render polite. (Obs.)

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Etymology of 'Polite'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Polite" Quotes from Famous Books

... humbling words, being too rough for ears polite, have been omitted from all the editions of this book published since the author's ...

— The Works of John Bunyan • John Bunyan

... silence that ensued after the feebly-polite applause Michael rose. For just an instant he stood, looking over the audience and a strange subtle thrill ran over ...

— Lo, Michael! • Grace Livingston Hill

... justification of his reputation, Bones disappeared for a week. At the end of that time we received a polite note from Judge Preston, saying that the dog had become quite domiciled in their house, and begged that the camp, without yielding up their valuable PROPERTY in him, would allow him to remain at Spring Valley for an indefinite time; that both the judge and his daughter—with whom Bones ...

— Selected Stories • Bret Harte

... big, blundering fellow, who has previously announced himself as a disciple of Tolstoi. To Sanin's philosophy of life, duelling is as absurd as religion, morality, or any other stupid conventionality; and his cold, ruthless logic makes short work of the polite phrases of the two ambassadors. Both are amazed at his positive refusal to fight, and hardly know which way to turn; the disciple of Tolstoi splutters with rage because Sanin shows up his inconsistency with his creed; both try to treat him like an outcast, but make very little progress. Sanin informs ...

— Essays on Russian Novelists • William Lyon Phelps

... it's right glad I'd be to do it," Elsie began (how very polite any one can be when they choose), "but we're quite strange, and have lost our own way, our mother being dead and our father in London, which we're trying to find; and perhaps, ma'am, you would be so kind as to tell us the way." All this ...

— Little Folks (Septemeber 1884) - A Magazine for the Young • Various

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