What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Civility vs Polite - What's the difference?

civility | polite |

In obsolete terms the difference between civility and polite

is that civility is a civil office, or a civil process while polite is smooth, polished, burnished.

As a noun civility

is politeness; courtesy; an individual act or a manner of behaving which conforms to social conventions of propriety.

As an adjective polite is

well-mannered, civilized.

As a verb polite is

to polish; to refine; to render polite.

civility

Noun

  • Politeness]]; courtesy; an individual act or a manner of [[behave, behaving which conforms to social conventions of propriety.
  • * Chesterfield
  • The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be.
  • (obsolete) The state of society in which the relations and duties of a citizen are recognized and obeyed; civilization.
  • * Sir J. Davies
  • Monarchies have risen from barbarism to civility , and fallen again to ruin.
  • (obsolete) A civil office, or a civil process.
  • * Latimer
  • To serve in a civility .

    polite

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Well-mannered, civilized.
  • * (Alexander Pope)
  • He marries, bows at court, and grows polite .
  • * , chapter=4
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite .}}
  • (obsolete) Smooth, polished, burnished.
  • * (Isaac Newton)
  • rays of light falling on a polite surface

    Usage notes

    * The one-word comparative form (politer) and superlative form (politest) exist, but are less common than their two-word counterparts (term) and (term).

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Antonyms

    * impolite * rude

    Derived terms

    * over-polite * politeness * polite society

    Verb

    (polit)
  • (obsolete) To polish; to refine; to render polite.
  • (Ray)

    References

    *

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----