couth
1 Americanadjective
noun
adjective
adjective
-
facetious refined
-
archaic familiar; known
Etymology
Origin of couth1
First recorded in 1895–1900; back formation from uncouth
Origin of couth1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English cūth, past participle of cunnan “to know”; know 1, can 2, could
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I still like the venom and passion that was in a lot of the old songs, but there is a level of disrespect and lack of couth that sometimes I don’t dig,” Palumbo says.
From Los Angeles Times
It used to be cute, though, to hear him compensate for his lack of polish and couth by using ridiculously florid language when a one-syllable response would do.
From Salon
What could possibly be less couth – less Wimbledon – than seeing off all-comers with attitude, personality and style?
From The Guardian
“But obviously with the coronavirus and the social unrest we’re dealing with, that’s where you need a politician, somebody with a little bit more couth.”
From New York Times
"He has no couth? He has no dignity?"
From Fox News
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
