POLITENESS • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Politeness

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/pəlˈaɪtnəs/ Listen

noun

Politeness n.

High finish; smoothness; burnished elegance. (R.)

The quality or state of being polite; refinement of manners; urbanity; courteous behavior; complaisance; obliging attentions.

Synonyms: Courtesy; good breeding; refinement; urbanity; courteousness; affability; complaisance; civility; gentility; courtliness. Politeness, Courtesy. Politeness denotes that ease and gracefulness of manners which first sprung up in cities, connected with a desire to please others by anticipating their wants and wishes, and studiously avoiding whatever might give them pain. Courtesy is, etymologically, the politeness of courts. It displays itself in the address and manners; it is shown more especially in receiving and entertaining others, and is a union of dignified complaisance and kindness.

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Etymology of 'Politeness'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Politeness" Quotes from Famous Books

... courteous to everyone; but to anybody he disliked his politeness was simply deadly. Of course he took no notice of the young parson's tacit insolence; he only longed, as fervently as he knew how to long, for an opportunity of being polite to him. And the occasion was soon forthcoming. The conversation growing more general by degrees, a reference ...

— Austin and His Friends • Frederic H. Balfour

... on Saturday August 21. On Monday we were invited into the town-hall, where I had the freedom of the city given me by the Lord Provost. The honour conferred had all the decorations that politeness could add, and what I am afraid I should not have had to say of any city south of the Tweed, I found no petty officer bowing ...

— A Journey to the Western Isles of Scotland • Samuel Johnson

... that there is every conceivable variety and shade of belief between the two; so that not only is it most difficult theoretically to mark the point where hesitating trust and failing practice change into definite infidelity, but it has become a point of politeness not to inquire too deeply into our neighbor's religious opinions; and, so that no one be offended by violent breach of external forms, to waive any close examination into the tenets of faith. The fact is, we distrust each other and ourselves so much, that ...

— The Stones of Venice, Volume III (of 3) • John Ruskin

... Lancelotto, Signor Rossi; Paulo, Signor Salvini; and Guido, Signor Majeroni. It happened, however, that Rossi, who was unaccustomed to play the part of Lancelotto, felt timid at appearing in a character so little suited to him. Hearing this, Signor Salvini, with exquisite politeness and good-nature, volunteered to take the insignificant part, relinquishing the grand role of Paulo to his junior in the profession. He created by the force of his genius an impression in the minor part which is still vivid in the minds of all who witnessed the performance. The ...

— Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science Vol. XV., No. 85. January, 1875. • Various

... "He must be mad to write a letter like that," he said; "I'll meet the little devil and teach him such a lesson in politeness as he is ...

— The Clue of the Twisted Candle • Edgar Wallace

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