Hypertext Webster Gateway: "polite"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Polite \Po*lite"\, v. t.
To polish; to refine; to render polite. [Obs.] --Ray.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (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}]
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