politesse

noun /pɒlɪˈtɛs/

1. Civility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry; genteel politeness or an instance of this.

   countable, uncountable

   So if you meet me, have some courtesy / Have some sympathy, and some taste / Use all your well-learned politesse / Or I'll lay your soul to waste

Where it comes from

From French politesse, from Italian politezza, from polito, past participle of pulire (“to clean”), from Latin polire, present active infinite form of poliō (“to polish”).

Adapted from the Wiktionary entry politesse (CC BY-SA 4.0).

← polemologypolitocracy →

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