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Decorous vs Polite - What's the difference?

decorous | polite |

As adjectives the difference between decorous and polite

is that decorous is marked by proper behavior while polite is well-mannered, civilized.

As a verb polite is

(obsolete|transitive) to polish; to refine; to render polite.

decorous

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Marked by proper behavior. (rfex)
  • * 1919 ,
    • But who can fathom the subtleties of the human heart? Certainly not those who expect from it only decorous sentiments and normal emotions.

    Related terms

    * decorum

    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

    Related terms

    * polish

    Verb

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

    References

    *

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----