Urbanity
Encyclopedia
Urbanity refers to the characteristics, personality
traits, and viewpoints associated with cities
and urban area
s. People who can be described as having urbanity are also referred to as citified. The word is related to the Latin
urbanitas with connotations of refinement and elegance
, the opposite of rusticus, associated with the countryside. In Latin the word referred originally to the view of the world from ancient Rome
. The name Urban
has been taken as a papal name
by nine pope
s and referred to the location of the Holy See
at the Vatican
in Rome and the pope's status as Bishop of Rome. Urbane has a similar meaning; Oxford English Dictionary
notes that the relationship of urbane to urban is similar to the relationship humane bears to human. http://www.ablemedia.com/ctcweb/glossary/glossaryu.html
In language, urbanity still connotes a smooth and literate style, free of barbarisms and other infelicities. In antiquity, schools of rhetoric
flourished only in the atmosphere of large cities, to which privileged students flocked from smaller cities in order to gain polish.
'Urbanity' as a word has also been used in recent years to describe the 'insanity' of urban life, as in the novel Urbanity by Francis Murphy.
Personality psychology
Personality psychology is a branch of psychology that studies personality and individual differences. Its areas of focus include:* Constructing a coherent picture of the individual and his or her major psychological processes...
traits, and viewpoints associated with cities
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
s. People who can be described as having urbanity are also referred to as citified. The word is related to the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
urbanitas with connotations of refinement and elegance
Elegance
Elegance is a synonym for beauty that has come to acquire the additional connotations of unusual effectiveness and simplicity. It is frequently used as a standard of tastefulness particularly in the areas of visual design, decoration, the sciences, and the esthetics of mathematics...
, the opposite of rusticus, associated with the countryside. In Latin the word referred originally to the view of the world from ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
. The name Urban
Urban (name)
Urban is a common name, from the Latin urbanus .-Papal name:Urban was a popular name for popes.*Pope Urban I *Pope Urban II*Pope Urban III*Pope Urban IV*Pope Urban V*Pope Urban VI*Pope Urban VII*Pope Urban VIII...
has been taken as a papal name
Regnal name
A regnal name, or reign name, is a formal name used by some monarchs and popes during their reigns. Since medieval times, monarchs have frequently chosen to use a name different from their own personal name when they inherit a throne....
by nine pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
s and referred to the location of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
at the Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
in Rome and the pope's status as Bishop of Rome. Urbane has a similar meaning; Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
notes that the relationship of urbane to urban is similar to the relationship humane bears to human. http://www.ablemedia.com/ctcweb/glossary/glossaryu.html
In language, urbanity still connotes a smooth and literate style, free of barbarisms and other infelicities. In antiquity, schools of rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
flourished only in the atmosphere of large cities, to which privileged students flocked from smaller cities in order to gain polish.
Modern concepts of "urbanism"
- Lewis MumfordLewis MumfordLewis Mumford was an American historian, philosopher of technology, and influential literary critic. Particularly noted for his study of cities and urban architecture, he had a broad career as a writer...
- Henri LefebvreHenri LefebvreHenri Lefebvre was a French sociologist, Marxist intellectual, and philosopher, best known for his work on dialectics, Marxism, everyday life, cities, and space.-Biography:...
'Urbanity' as a word has also been used in recent years to describe the 'insanity' of urban life, as in the novel Urbanity by Francis Murphy.