Urbanity
/ˌɜːrˈbæn.ɪ.ti/noun
Refined, polished social grace or sophistication in manner.
Did you know?Urbanity comes from Latin urbanitas, a quality associated with city-bred wit and polish, and it ultimately traces back to the same root as urbs, the city of Rome itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁er-
“to fit together, join, or arrange”
Latin
Latin
urbs
“city, especially a walled city”
Latin
Latin
urbanus
“of or belonging to the city; refined, civilized”
Latin
Latin
urbanitas
“city-bred manners, refinement, wit”
Middle English
English
urbanite / urbanity
“refinement or polished manners, especially in speech and behavior”
Modern English
English
urbanity
“refined, polished social grace or sophistication in manner”