POLITELY

politely, courteously

(adverb) in a polite manner; “the policeman answered politely, ‘Now look here, lady...’”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adverb

politely (comparative more politely, superlative most politely)

in a polite manner

Source: Wiktionary


Po*lite"ly, adv.

1. In a polished manner; so as to be smooth or glossy. [Obs.] Milton.

2. In a polite manner; with politeness.

POLITE

Po*lite", a. [Compar. Politer; superl. Politest.] Etym: [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.

Po*lite", v. t.

Definition: To polish; to refine; to render polite. [Obs.] Ray.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

3 April 2025

WHOLE

(noun) an assemblage of parts that is regarded as a single entity; “how big is that part compared to the whole?”; “the team is a unit”


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Coffee Trivia

According to WorldAtlas, Canada is the only non-European country to make its top ten list of coffee consumers. The United States at a distant 25 on the list.

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