civil
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: enpr: ʹsĭv-əl
ipa: /ˈsɪv.əl/
rhymes: -ɪvəl
Forms: form: more civil
form: civiler
form: most civil
form: civilest
Etymology: From Middle English cyvyl, civil, borrowed from Old French civil, from Latin cīvīlis (“relating to a citizen”), from cīvis (“citizen”). Cognate with Old English hīwen (“household”), hīrǣden (“family”). More at hind; hird.
Senses: examples: text: She went into civil service because she wanted to help the people.
text: A third is wroth: ‘Is this an hour
⁠For private sorrow’s barren song,
⁠When more and more the people throng
The chairs and thrones of civil power?’
ref: 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XXI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 35:
glosses: Having to do with people and government office as opposed to the military or religion.
examples: text: It was very civil of him to stop the argument.
text: They despise each other, but they are always civil in public.
antonyms: anti-civil
impolite
inconsiderate
noncivil
rude
glosses: Behaving in a reasonable or polite manner; avoiding displays of hostility.
examples: text: Herein thou haſt done good ſeruice to thy country:
VVere all inhumaine ſlaues ſo ſerued as he,
England would be ciuill, and from all ſuch dealings free.
ref: 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], Act I:
glosses: In a peaceful and well-ordered state.
examples: text: a civil case
topics: law
glosses: Relating to private relations among citizens, as opposed to criminal matters.
examples: text: As if our Saviour had said, No man can enter into heaven except he be born again; so as he speaketh not only of notorious Sinners, as Adulterers, Drunkards, Swearers, & c. but of all who are in their natural condition, tho' they live never so unblameably, free from scandalous sins, if they be not born again, their civil Righteousness will do them little good, for they shall never see the Kingdom of God.
ref: 1680, A Practical Discourse of Regeneration:
text: The word from which "evil" in Romans 13.4 is translated means "generally opposed to civil goodness or virtue, in a commonwealth, and not to spiritual good, or religion, in the church.
ref: 2008, Jerald Finney, God Betrayed, →ISBN, page 174:
text: Some grammarians explain this passage as referring to a civil sanctity, in respect of the children being reckoned legitimate, but in this respect the condition of unbelievers is in no degree worse.
ref: 2013, John Calvin, Calvin's Complete Commentary, Volume 7: Acts to Ephesians:
glosses: Secular.
Derived terms: American civil religion
civil action
civil aviation
civil celebrant
civil code
civil court
civil day
civil death
civil defence
civil defense
civil disobedience
civil enforcement officer
civil engineer
civil engineering
civil ensign
Civil Guard
civilian
civilise
civilish
civilist
civility
civilize
civil law
civil law notary
civil libertarian
civil liberties
civil liberty
civil list
civilly
civil marriage
civilness
civilogue
civil parish
civil partner
civil partnership
civil power
civil procedure
civil registry
civil rightist
civil rights
civil rights movement
civil servant
civil service
civil society
civil status
civil suit
civil time
civil tongue
civil trial
civil twilight
civil union
civil violation
civil war
civil wrong
civil year
Common-Civil-Calendar-and-Time Calendar
keep a civil tongue
keep a civil tongue in one's head
keep a civil tongue in one's mouth
minor civil division
overcivil
put a civil tongue in one's head
put a civil tongue in one's mouth
ultracivil
uncivil
Related terms: civic
civilization