 3 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
urbanity
noun: polished courtesy; elegance of manner
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Urbanity \Ur*ban"i*ty\, noun [L. urbanitas; cf. F. urbanit['e].]
1. The quality or state of being urbane; civility or courtesy
of manners; politeness; refinement.
The marquis did the honors of his house with the
urbanity of his country. --W. Irving.
2. Polite wit; facetiousness. [Obs.] --Dryden.
Raillery in the sauce of civil entertainment; and
without some such tincture of urbanity, good humor
falters. --L'Estrange.
Syn: Politeness; suavity; affability; courtesy.
From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:
URBANITY, noun The kind of civility that urban observers ascribe to
dwellers in all cities but New York. Its commonest expression is
heard in the words, "I beg your pardon," and it is not consistent with
disregard of the rights of others.
The owner of a powder mill
Was musing on a distant hill --
Something his mind foreboded --
When from the cloudless sky there fell
A deviled human kidney! Well,
The man's mill had exploded.
His hat he lifted from his head;
"I beg your pardon, sir," he said;
"I didn't know 'twas loaded."
Swatkin
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