[syn: civil, polite]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.]
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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.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Polite \Po*lite"\, v. t.
To polish; to refine; to render polite. [Obs.] --Ray.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
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, 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]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
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