a. [UN-1 8, 5 b.]
† 1. Unpolished; unrefined. Obs. rare.
1646. G. Daniel, Poems, Wks. (Grosart), I. 94. What but vnpolite fformes, and ffancies raw, Can such a time produce?
1726. Waldron, Descr. Isle of Man (1744), 93. However unpolite and savage … the Natives of Man may be.
1727. Swift, Further Acc. E. Curll, ¶ 1. A faithful, though unpolite historian of Grubstreet.
2. Lacking in politeness; impolite: a. Of actions, conduct, etc.
1709. Tatler, No. 140, ¶ 8. [He calls] my cousin Jenny Distaff, Madam Distaff; which … is very unpolite.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1781), I. xxiii. 164. His unpolite behaviour to the dear creature.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, ix. As an apology to the company for his unpolite behaviour.
b. Of persons.
1712. Spect., No. 506, ¶ 4. The Spirit of Love … is very often … lost, by some little Accidents which the Careless and Unpolite never attend to.
1747. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), I. 205. An unpolite and disobliging brother.
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), IV. 417. He will not be so unpolite … as to suffer this … suspicion to pass the bounds of his own lips.
1871. Smiles, Charac., ix. 238. The unpolite impulsive man will … rather lose his friend than his joke.
† 3. Unfashionable, inelegant. Obs.
1740. Cibber, Apol., I. 11. In these unpolite Amusements he has laugh’d like a Rake.
1741. Watts, Improv. Mind, I. xvii. How ever they may be now fancied to sound unpolite or unfashionable.
1753. Songs Costume (Percy Soc.), 234. Next a coat of embroidery from foreigners come; ’Twou’d be quite unpolite to have one wrought at home.
