polite
pronunciation
How to pronounce polite in British English:
UK [pəˈlaɪt]
How to pronounce polite in American English:
US [pəˈlaɪt]
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- Adjective:
- showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
- marked by refinement in taste and manners
- not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages and sufficient but not noteworthy consideration for others
Word Origin
- polite
- polite: [15] Someone who is polite is etymologically ‘polished’ – indeed that is what the word originally meant in English (‘The arch within and without was hiled [covered] with gold polite’, Mirror of man’s salvation 1450). This had passed metaphorically into ‘refined’ by the 16th century, but not until the 17th century did the modern sense ‘having refined manners’ emerge. It was borrowed from polītus, the past participle of Latin polīre ‘polish’ (source of English polish).=> polish
- polite (adj.)
- late 14c., "polished, burnished" (mid-13c. as a surname), from Latin politus "refined, elegant, accomplished," literally "polished," past participle of polire "to polish, to make smooth" (see polish (v.)). Used literally at first in English; sense of "elegant, cultured" is first recorded c. 1500, that of "behaving courteously" is 1748 (implied in politely). Related: Politeness.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Bob was experienced , polite , well-spoken , and knew the business .
- 2. That was actually one of the more polite complaints – the vast majority contained expletives , for obvious reasons .
- 3. She 's polite to his friends and co-workers .
- 4. The coastguard officers were extremely polite and friendly .
- 5. Mention kashmir in polite delhi society and noses wrinkle .