polite
showing refined or respectful manners
Root
- poli / polire: smooth, polish, or refine
Other words with the poli / polire root
- extrapolate: to infer beyond the known data
- interpolate: to insert or estimate between known points
- polish: to make smooth or bright by rubbing
Polite began near polished: rough edges smoothed into social grace.
His polite refusal was clear without being cruel.