Lewis & Short

urbānĭtas, ātis, f. [urbanus], a living in a city, city life.

  1. I. Lit.: desideria urbis et urbanitatis, Cic. Fam. 7, 6, 1: in urbis urbanitatisque desiderio, id. ib. 7, 17, 1.
  2. II. Transf., city fashion, city manners, both in a good and in a bad sense.
    1. A. In a good sense.
      1. 1. Refinement, elegance of manner, politeness, courtesy, affability, urbanity: addo urbanitatem, quae est virtus, ut Stoici rectissime putant, Cic. Fam. 3, 7, 5.
      2. 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.
        1. 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.
    2. B. In a bad sense, trickery, roguery, knavery: incuriosos milites (vernaculā utebantur urbanitate) quidam spoliavere, Tac. H. 2, 88; so, vernula, Petr. 24.