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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Polite \Po*lite"\, adjective [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.
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |