| 释义 |
urbanity|ɜːˈbænɪtɪ|
[a. F. urbanité (13–14th c.), or ad. L. urbānitāt-, urbānitās, f. urbān-us urban a. Cf. It. urbanità, Sp. urbanidad, Pg. urbanidade.]
1. The character or quality of being urbane; courtesy, refinement, or elegance of manner; refined or bland politeness or civility.
In frequent use since c 1825.
1535Stewart Cron. Scot. (Rolls) II. 328 Ane man he wes of greit vrbanitie. 1547Boorde Brev. Health (1557) Prol., Egregious doctours,..of your Urbanitie exasperate not youre selfe agaynst me. a1566R. Edwards Damon & Pithias (1906) 46 A right courtier is virtuous, gentle and full of urbanity. 1606L. Bryskett Civ. Life 245 The meane which teacheth the tempering of those excesses, called the vertue of Vrbanitie, a Latine name, which in English we cannot better. 1693Dryden Juvenal (1697) p. lxii, His Urbanity, that is, his Good Manners, are to be commended. 1713Guardian No. 36 ⁋11 The Virtue called Urbanity by the Moralists, or a Courtly Behaviour. 1746Gentl. Mag. 7/2 Urbanity is a certain impression of politeness and goodness, which appears in the mind, conversation and sentiments of a person. 1777W. Dalrymple Trav. Sp. & Port. vii, He was all urbanity and good humour. 1814Scott Wav. xi, If you have no respect for the laws of urbanity. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. iv. I. 439 That exquisite urbanity, so often found potent to charm away the resentment of a justly incensed nation. 1878Pater Child in House (1894) 15 A kind of comeliness and dignity, an urbanity literally, in modes of life, which he connected with the pale people of towns.
transf.1616J. Lane Contn. Sqr.'s T. ix. 152 Cambuscan..eyenge Giant Horbills iollite, rann at his tassant plumes vrbanitie.
b. Const. of (manners, etc.).
1793V. Knox Let. Yng. Nobleman v, Wks. 1824 V. 10 You cannot read and taste his beauties, without improving your urbanity of manners. 1798S. & Ht. Lee Canterb. T. II. 129 From the moment they quitted France, urbanity of manners vanished. 1808Med. Jrnl. XIX. 258 The late Dr. Purcell,..whose urbanity of manners..will long be remembered. 1816Scott Old Mort. xxxv, The gentleness and urbanity of his general manners.
c. pl. Civilities, courtesies.
1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. vi. 23 The passages of societie and daily urbanities of our times. 1822Galt Provost xlii, There is a surprising difference, in regard to the urbanities in use among those who have not yet come to authority. 1866Felton Anc. & Mod. Gr. II. v. 71 In the urbanities of social life,..Athens was without an equal, without a second.
†2. Conversation characteristic of well-bred townspeople; cheerful, witty, or pleasant talk; polished wit or humour. Obs.
a1566R. Edwards Damon & Pithias (1571) B i b, Then grudge not at all, if in my behauiour, I make the Kinge mery, with pleasant vrbanitie. 1640Bp. Reynolds Passions xxi. 214 Men are delighted..with Elegancies, Tests, Vrbanity, and Flowers of wit. 1656E. Reyner Rules Govt. Tongue 223 Use Recreational speeches;..this is urbanity, or pleasantness of speech. 1693Dryden Juvenal (1697) p. liv, Moral Doctrine, says he, and Urbanity, or well-manner'd Wit,..constitute the Roman Satire.
3. The state, condition, or character of a town or city; life in a city; town-life.
In freq. use from c 1898.
1549Compl. Scotl. vi. 43 Tha detestit vrbanite, and desirit to lyue in villagis. 1789Belsham Ess. I. xvii. 328 The serenity, the elegance and urbanity of Paris. 1877R. Martineau tr. Goldziher's Mythol. Heb. iv. 83 This trait of glorification of the old-fashioned Beduin-life, to the disparagement of the free urbanity of the townsmen. 1898Maitland Township & Borough 13 A difference between..urbanity and rusticity. 1900A. Jessopp in Birm. Weekly Post 14 April 5/3 A glimpse of the world of streets and the docks and the seamy side of ‘urbanity’. |