over-polite en · ADJ
Etymology
From over- + polite.
Meanings
-
Excessively polite.
She can communicate both of these intentions simultaneously by using an over-polite request such as "Would you mind if I asked you to keep the windows closed, please?" Such unexpectedly over-polite utterances are often interpreted as ironic.
2007, Raymond W. Gibbs, Herbert L. Colston, Irony in Language and Thought:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more over-polite | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most over-polite | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |