urbane

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day

语言学习

2024-12-30

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Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for December 30, 2024 is: urbane er-BAYN adjective What It Means Someone described as urbane is notably polite, confident, or polished in manner. Urbane is also used to describe things that are fashionable and somewhat formal. // "When did my willful, childish cousin turn into this urbane young artist greeting the guests at her opening reception?" wondered Elena. cynosure in Context "The classical-meets-country-house architecture offers a relaxed lifestyle fused with urbane glamour and a thoroughly modern slate of creature comforts." — Mark David, Robb Report, 18 June 2024 Did You Know? City slickers and country folk have long debated whether life is better in town or in the wide-open spaces, and urbane is a term that springs from the throes of that debate. In its earliest English uses, urbane was synonymous with its close relative urban ("of, relating to, characteristic of, or constituting a city"). Both words come from the Latin adjective urbanus ("urban, urbane"), which in turn comes from urbs, meaning "city." The modern sense of urbane developed from the belief (no doubt fostered by cosmopolitan city dwellers) that living in the city made one more suave and polished than did leading a rural life.
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  • It's the Word of the Day podcast for December 30th.

  • Today's word is urbane.

  • Spelled U-R-B-A-N-E, urbane is an adjective.

  • Someone described as urbane is notably polite, confident, or polished in manner.

  • Urbane is also used to describe things that are fashionable and somewhat formal.

  • Here's the word used in a sentence from The Robb Report by Mark David.

  • The Classical Meets Country House architecture offers a relaxed lifestyle fused with urbane glamour and a thoroughly modern slate of creature comforts.

  • City slickers and country folk have long debated whether life is better in town or in the wide-open spaces,

  • and urbane is a term that springs from the throes of that debate.

  • In its earliest English uses, urbane was synonymous with its close relative,

  • urban, meaning of relating to or characteristic of a city.

  • Both words come from the Latin adjective urbanus,

  • meaning urban and urbane, which in turn comes from urbs meaning city.

  • The modern sense of urbane developed from the belief no doubt fostered by cosmopolitan city dwellers that living in the city made one more suave and polished than did living a rural life.

  • With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.