Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Pleasant or soothing quality or manner; agreeableness; blandness: as, suavity of manner or address.
  • noun Hence Pl. suavities (-tiz). That which is suave, bland, or soothing.
  • noun Sweetness to the senses; a mild or agreeable quality.
  • noun Synonyms Urbanity, amenity, civility, courtesy.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun obsolete Sweetness to the taste.
  • noun The quality of being sweet or pleasing to the mind; agreeableness; softness; pleasantness; gentleness; urbanity.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun obsolete Sweetness to the taste.
  • noun The quality of being sweet or pleasing to the mind; agreeableness; softness; smoothness; pleasantness; gentleness; urbanity; as, suavity of manners; suavity of language, conversation, or address.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the quality of being bland and gracious or ingratiating in manner

Etymologies

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Examples

  • You know the word suavity exists, and you plan to use it in every sentence you speak for the rest of your life - even if it's just whispering it seductively at the end of them like

    Cracked: All Posts 2010

  • Recovering his equanimity, with the ease and suavity which is usual with him in all company, Mr. Bennett was about to address the intruder, when he perceived that what he had taken for the gentleman in black was nothing more than a frightened orang-outang.

    Life of Hon. Phineas T. Barnum 1891

  • Mrs. Mullarkey agreed, with that suavity which is, after her untidiness, her distinguishing characteristic; but notwithstanding this arrangement we break our fast sometimes at nine forty, sometimes at nine twenty, sometimes at nine, but never earlier.

    Penelope's Irish Experiences Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin 1889

  • And if there was something in the exquisite sweetness of Leonard's voice, look, and manner, which the countess acknowledged to attain that perfection in high breeding, which, under the name of "suavity," steals its way into the heart, so her interest in him was aroused by a certain subdued melancholy which is rarely without distinction, and never without charm.

    My Novel — Complete Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • A certain nobleness in the details, the exquisite cleanliness of the furniture, and a perfect concord of men and things, all brought the word "suavity" to the lips.

    The Commission in Lunacy Honor�� de Balzac 1824

  • "suavity," steals its way into the heart, so her interest in him was aroused by a certain subdued melancholy which is rarely without distinction, and never without charm.

    My Novel — Volume 10 Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton 1838

  • One of the things I adore about Jet Li is the way he often plays this terrifically competent martial arts expert who at the same time retains a sense of innocence and humility and a sometimes comedic lack of suavity around attractive women (this movie includes a mother-daughter team of thieves, so you can be sure there is some comedy).

    2008 Film Reviews: More Catching Up kateelliott 2009

  • The work itself is effectively a dialogue between piano and orchestra rather than a contest, permitting Abbado to show off the poise and grace of the woodwind – there were some wonderfully honed solos here – and the suavity of the strings.

    Lucerne Festival Orchestra – review 2011

  • It's great fun to see Mr. Willis's swings between minimalist comedy and maximalist action, or Mr. Freeman's combination of suavity and warmth.

    'Red' Alert: Old Stars Fire Up Thriller Joe Morgenstern 2010

  • It was easy for me to overlook his excessive suavity of speech and super-courtesy of social mannerism.

    CHAPTER X 2010

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