ed,
complaisant, cultured, obliging, well-bred,
courteous, elegant, polished, well-mannered.

A _civil_ person observes such propriety of speech and manner as to
avoid being rude; one who is _polite_ (literally _polished_) observes
more than the necessary proprieties, conforming to all that is graceful,
becoming, and thoughtful in the intercourse of refined society. A man
may be _civil_ with no consideration for others, simply because
self-respect forbids him to be rude; but one who is _polite_ has at
least some care for the opinions of others, and if _polite_ in the
highest and truest sense, which is coming to be the prevailing one, he
cares for the comfort and happiness of others in the smallest matters.
_Civil_ is a colder and more distant word than _polite_; _courteous_ is
fuller and richer, dealing often with greater matters, and is used only
in the good sense. _Courtly_ suggests that which befits a royal court,
and is used of external grace and stateliness without reference to the
prompting feeling; as, the _courtly_ manners of the ambassador.
_Genteel_ refers to an external elegance, which may be showy and
superficial, and the word is thus inferior to _polite_ or _courteous_.
_Urbane_ refers to a politeness that is genial and successful in giving
others a sense of ease and cheer. _Polished_ refers to external
elegancies of speech and manner without reference to spirit or purpose;
as, a _polished_ gentleman or a _polished_ scoundrel; _cultured_ refers
to a real and high development of mind and soul, of which the external
manifestation is the smallest part. _Complaisant_ denotes a disposition
to please or favor beyond what _politeness_ would necessarily require.

Antonyms:

awkward, clownish, ill-mannered, insulting, uncouth,
bluff, coarse, impertinent, raw, unmannerly,
blunt, discourteous, impolite, rude, unpolished,
boorish, ill-behaved, impudent, rustic, untaught,
brusk, ill-bred, insolent, uncivil, untutored.

* * * * *

POLITY.

Synonyms:

constitution, policy, form _or_ system of government.

_Polity_ is the permanent system of government of a state, a church, or
a society; _policy_ is the method of management with reference to the
attainment of certain ends; the national _polity_ of the United States
is republican; each administration has a _policy_ of its own. _Policy_