Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Polite \Po*lite"\, a. [Compar. {Politer}; superl. {Politest}.]
   [L. politus, p. p. of polire to polish: cf. F. poli. See
   {Polish}, v.]
   1. Smooth; polished. [Obs.]

            Rays of light falling on a polite surface. --Sir I.
                                                  Newton.

   2. Smooth and refined in behavior or manners; well bred;
      courteous; complaisant; obliging; civil.

            He marries, bows at court, and grows polite. --Pope.

   3. Characterized by refinement, or a high degree of finish;
      as, polite literature. --Macaulay.

   Syn: Polished; refined; well bred; courteous; affable;
        urbane; civil; courtly; elegant; genteel.

Polite \Po*lite"\, v. t.
   To polish; to refine; to render polite. [Obs.] --Ray.

Source : WordNet®

polite
     adj 1: showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
            [ant: {impolite}]
     2: marked by refinement in taste and manners; "cultivated
        speech"; "cultured Bostonians"; "cultured tastes"; "a
        genteel old lady"; "polite society" [syn: {civilized}, {civilised},
         {cultivated}, {cultured}, {genteel}]
     3: not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal)
        adherence to social usages and sufficient but not
        noteworthy consideration for others; "even if he didn't
        like them he should have been civil"- W.S. Maugham [syn: {civil}]
        [ant: {uncivil}]