POLITENESS
Po*lite"ness, n.
1. High finish; smoothness; burnished elegance. [R.] Evelyn.
2. The quality or state of being polite; refinement of manners; urbanity; courteous behavior; complaisance; obliging attentions.
Syn. — 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.
POLITESSE
Pol`i*tesse", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Politeness.
POLITIC
Pol"i*tic, a. Etym: [L. politicus political, Gr. politique. See
Police, and cf. ePolitical.]
1. Of or pertaining to polity, or civil government; political; as, the body politic. See under Body. He with his people made all but one politic body. Sir P. Sidney.
2. Pertaining to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong; — said of things; as, a politic treaty. "Enrich'd with politic grave counsel." Shak.
3. Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious; and in a bad sense, artful; unscrupulous; cunning; — said of persons. Politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy. Shak.