urbānĭtas, ātis, f. [urbanus], 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.