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civil

adj
/ˈsɪv.əl/CA

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. (polite): Compare typologically urbane (<< Latin urbs), courteous (akin to court).

  1. derived from cīvīlis — “relating to a citizen”
  2. derived from civil
  3. inherited from cyvyl

Definitions

  1. Having to do with people and government office as opposed to the military or religion.

    • She went into civil service because she wanted to help the people.
    • 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?’

  2. Behaving in a reasonable or polite manner

    Behaving in a reasonable or polite manner; avoiding displays of hostility.

    • It was very civil of him to stop the argument.
    • They despise each other, but they are always civil in public.

  3. In a peaceful and well-ordered state.

    • 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.
  4. ›+ 3 more definitions

    1. Relating to private relations among citizens, as opposed to criminal matters.

      • a civil case

    2. Secular.

      • 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.
      • 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.

    3. A surname.

The neighborhood

Derived

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 · +25 more

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for civil. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA