I.a living in a city, city life.
I. Lit.: “desideria urbis et urbanitatis,” Cic. Fam. 7, 6, 1: “in urbis urbanitatisque desiderio,” id. ib. 7, 17, 1.—
II. Transf., city fashion, city manners, both in a good and in a bad sense.
A. In a good sense.
1. Refinement, elegance of manner, politeness, courtesy, affability, urbanity: “addo urbanitatem, quae est virtus, ut Stoici rectissime putant,” Cic. Fam. 3, 7, 5.—
2. Refinement, delicacy, or elegance of speech: “urbanitate quādam quasi colorata oratio,” Cic. Brut. 46, 170; cf. Quint. 6, 3, 17 (opp. rusticitas); 6, 3, 103 sq.—
b. In partic., wit, humor, pleasantry, raillery: contumelia si petulantius jactatur, convicium; “si facetius, urbanitas nominatur,” Cic. Cael. 3, 6: “in quantam hominum facetorum urbanitatem incurratis, non dico,” id. Fin. 2, 31, 103: “ut aliquando subtilitatem veteris urbanitatis et humanissimi sermonis attingerem,” id. Q. Fr. 2, 10, 2: “vides exaruisse jam veterem urbanitatem,” id. Fam. 7, 31, 2: “mancipiorum urbanitas in dominos contumeliosa,” Sen. Const. 11, 3: “in jocis,” Quint. 2, 5, 8: “oratoria,” id. 6, 3, 14: “risus si aptus est, urbanitatis nomen adsequitur,” id. 8, 6, 74; 10, 1, 115.—
B. In a bad sense, trickery, roguery, knavery: “incuriosos milites (vernaculā utebantur urbanitate) quidam spoliavere,” Tac. H. 2, 88; so, “vernula,” Petr. 24.
