politesse

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

noun

1. formal politeness; courtesy.

politesse

/ ˌpɒlɪˈtɛs /

noun

1. formal or genteel politeness

Word History and Origins

Origin of politesse¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of politesse¹

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

Example Sentences

But Lorraine's politesse has limits, as a pair of Minnesota’s finest find when they pay a visit to her office to inquire about her daughter-in-law’s connection to a North Dakota crime.

From Salon

Nervous laughter erupted from the friendly audience as two South Carolinians seeking the Republican presidential nomination finally shed the shared Southern politesse that had kept them from attacking each other on the campaign trail.

From New York Times

The background to all of this politesse, as the French newspapers made clear, was about nurturing a relationship that might have been strained by Brexit.

From BBC

Welker, by contrast, seemed fed on the American tradition of treating every politician, even those complicit in an attempt to overturn the democratic tradition, with the utmost in politesse.

From Los Angeles Times

"What a lovely evening" commented the former hellraiser, a model of politesse.

From BBC