politesse

See also: Politesse

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɒlɪˈtɛs/
• (US) IPA^(key): /pɑləˈtɛs/

Noun

politesse (countable and uncountable, plural politesses)

1. Civility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry; or an instance of this.
   • 1968, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger (lyrics and music), “Sympathy for the Devil”, in Beggars Banquet, performed by Rolling Stones:

     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

   • 1978, Iris Murdoch, The Sea, The Sea, Vintage, published 1999, pages 56–57:

     The reference in his letter to ‘having a drink’ is of course just an empty politesse.

   • 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 7:

     The soft politesse concealed a sharp observer, a gleaner of information, cool under pressure and used to having to think several steps ahead […]

Translations

civility, courtesy

• Bulgarian: учтивост (bg) f (učtivost)
• French: savoir-vivre (fr) m
• Swedish: artighet (sv) c

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian politezza.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɔ.li.tɛs/
• Rhymes: -ɛs

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

politesse f (countable and uncountable, plural politesses)

1. (uncountable) politeness, courtesy

   Antonym: impolitesse

   Near-synonym: courtoisie

   une formule de politesse ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   par politesse ― out of courtesy, out of politeness, for politeness' sake

2. (countable) polite remark or action

   Near-synonyms: courtoisie, gentillesse

Derived terms

• brûler la politesse

Related terms

• poli

Descendants

• → English: politesse
• → German: Politesse

Further reading

• “politesse”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.