politeness

From polite +‎ -ness.

• IPA^(key): /pəˈlaɪtnəs/
• (Dublin) IPA^(key): /pəˈləɪʔnəs/, /pəˈlo̞ɪʔnəs/

• Audio (US):

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• Hyphenation: po‧lite‧ness

politeness (usually uncountable, plural politenesses)

1. (uncountable) The quality of being polite.
2. (countable) A polite act.
   • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 145:

     These politenesses left Miss Marley floundering for initiative, holding Jasper and being solemnly inspected by Podson, who clearly depended on her the convention of an afternoon call.

• (quality of being polite): civility, courtesy, courtliness, etiquette, grace.
• (an act of being polite): civility, courtesy

• (antonym(s) of “act or quality of being polite”): impoliteness, rudeness