1. In a polished manner; so as to be smooth or glossy. [Obs.] Milton.
2. In a polite manner; with politeness.
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. [F.] Politeness.
Politic
(Pol"i*tic) a. [L. politicus political, Gr. belonging to the citizens or to the state, fr. citizen: cf. F.
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. Syn. — Wise; prudent; sagacious; discreet; provident; wary; artful; cunning.
Politic
(Pol`i*tic), n. A politician. [Archaic] Bacon.
Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern;
Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet
by the stars.
Lowell. Political
(Po*lit"i*cal) a.
1. Having, or conforming to, a settled system of administration. [R.] "A political government." Evelyn.
2. Of or pertaining to public policy, or to politics; relating to affairs of state or administration; as, a political
writer. "The political state of Europe." Paley.
3. Of or pertaining to a party, or to parties, in the state; as, his political relations were with the Whigs.
4. Politic; wise; also, artful. [Obs.] Sterne.
Political economy, that branch of political science or philosophy which treats of the sources, and methods
of production and preservation, of the material wealth and prosperity of nations.
