POLITE

polite. Polite, a. desirous to please, of genteel manners, well bred, (in the sense of glossy, smooth, ob.)

---

Po‐lite″ (?), a. [Compar. Politer (?); superl. Politest.] [[L. politus, p. p. of polire to polish: cf. F. poli. See Polish, v.]] 1. 1. Smooth; polished.
Rays of light falling on a polite surface. Sir I. Newton. 2. 2. Smooth and refined in behavior or manners; well bred; courteous; complaisant; obliging; civil.
He marries, bows at court, and grows polite. Pope. 3. 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.