polite: [15] Someone who is polite is etymologically ‘polished’ – indeed that is what the word originally meant in English (‘The arch within and without was hiled [covered] with gold polite’, Mirror of man’s salvation 1450). This had passed metaphorically into ‘refined’ by the 16th century, but not until the 17th century did the modern sense ‘having refined manners’ emerge. It was borrowed from polītus, the past participle of Latin polīre ‘polish’ (source of English polish). => polish
polite (adj.)
late 14c., "polished, burnished" (mid-13c. as a surname), from Latin politus "refined, elegant, accomplished," literally "polished," past participle of polire "to polish, to make smooth" (see polish (v.)). Used literally at first in English; sense of "elegant, cultured" is first recorded c. 1500, that of "behaving courteously" is 1748 (implied in politely). Related: Politeness.
双语例句
1. He's a man of few words, very polite and unassuming.
他话不多，很有礼貌，为人谦和。
来自柯林斯例句
2. He's generous and, you know, very nice, very polite.
他很大方而且，你知道，很友善，很有礼貌。
来自柯林斯例句
3. I think English men are very polite and very correct.
我认为英国人很有礼貌，举止非常得体。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Cross cleared his throat and spoke in low, polite tones.
克罗斯清了清嗓子，开始有礼貌地低声说话。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Well-dressed clients were talking in polite undertones as they ate.