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politesse

[ pol-i-tes; French paw-lee-tes ]

/ ˌpɒl ɪˈtɛs; French pɔ liˈtɛs /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR politesse ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

formal politeness; courtesy.

Origin of politesse

1710–20; < French: orig. clean or polished state < Italian politezza, variant of pulitezza (derivative of polito polite)

Words nearby politesse

polished rice, polit., polit. econ., politburo, polite, politesse, politian, politic, political, political action committees, political asylum

Example sentences from the Web for politesse

All weekend reporters in eastern Ukraine were walking a bizarre tightrope, of prurience, politesse, and ghoulishness.

To Truly Shame Putin, Show Us the Bodies of MH17 |Tim Teeman |July 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Or will an uneasy impulse to politesse, and fear of unknown consequences, restrain them?

Don’t You Dare Call Russians Thin-Skinned! |Liesl Schillinger |February 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Now the Parisian public transport authority, the RATP, is trying to solve this problem of politesse.

Paris’s New Metro Etiquette Manual is a Rosetta Stone for Travelers |Christopher Dickey |December 8, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
And perhaps most important, to deflect criticism and mollify opponents with politesse and wit.

GOP's New Foreign Affairs Chair Ready to Play Hardball |Sandra McElwaine |February 20, 2011 |DAILY BEAST

Polite′ness, state or quality of being polite: refinement of manners: good-breeding; Politesse′, politeness.

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) |Various
There was much ceremony when they departed—much French politesse, and many charming little attentions were paid.

Sally Bishop |E. Temple Thurston
They seemed in excellent humor, and made more than an ordinary display of French politesse.

Peter Parley's Own Story |Samuel G. Goodrich
Positively you shall go with me as was agreed, and don't let me have any of your politesse to H. on the occasion.

Life of Lord Byron, Vol. II |Thomas Moore
How different does his Lordship appear to me—to me he is all politesse.

Such Things Are |Mrs. Inchbald

British Dictionary definitions for politesse

politesse

/ (ˌpɒlɪˈtɛs) /

noun

formal or genteel politeness

Word Origin for politesse

C18: via French from Italian politezza, ultimately from Latin polīre to polish