politely
adverbattested in dialogue
- //pəˈlaɪtli//
in a polite manner
adverb
- 1
in a polite manner
If pressed about a serious accusation like rape, you can politely reply that you can’t answer questions pertaining to such an allegation without legal representation and wish to remain silent.
It was night once more and Mary had got through another day without throwing herself politely from a top floor window or scrawling filthy words on the dining room walls.
Etymology
Etymology tree English polite Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English politely From polite + -ly.
Forms
- comparative
- more politely
- superlative
- most politely