civil

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈsɪvəl/ UK /ˈsɪv.əl/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like sibyl /v/ vs /b/

Freq #2859

Meanings

1

adj
Polite and reasonable, even when you disagree with someone.

They managed to stay civil during the argument.
2

adj
Relating to ordinary citizens and everyday government, rather than the military or the church.

She decided to enter the civil service to help people.
3

adj
Relating to the rights and affairs of citizens within a country.

The march was part of the fight for civil rights.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · relating to ordinary... civic

3 adj · relating to the rights and... civic

Word family

Forms civilercivilestcivillycivils

Derived forms civilian civilisecivilishcivilistcivility civilizecivillycivilnesscivilogueovercivilultraciviluncivil

Related forms civic civilization

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Proverbs (1)

See all

A civil question deserves a civil answer

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).

cyvyl Middle English civil Old French cīvīlis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# civil

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɪvəl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɪv.əl/
**Frequency rank:** 2859

## Meanings
1. Polite and reasonable, even when you disagree with someone.
2. Relating to ordinary citizens and everyday government, rather than the military or the church.
3. Relating to the rights and affairs of citizens within a country.

## Examples
- They managed to stay civil during the argument.
- She decided to enter the civil service to help people.
- The march was part of the fight for civil rights.

## Derived Forms
- civilian
- civilise
- civilish
- civilist
- civility
- civilize
- civilly
- civilness
- civilogue
- overcivil
- ultracivil
- uncivil

## Related Forms
- civic
- civilization

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: cyvyl
- Root: civil
- Root: cīvīlis

## 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).

## AI Etymology
civil is an adjective. It is 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). Historical forms in the chain include cyvyl (Middle English), civil (Old French), and cīvīlis (Latin). Current senses include polite and reasonable, even when you disagree with someone, relating to ordinary citizens and everyday government, rather than the military or the church, and relating to the rights and affairs of citizens within a country. Derived forms include civilian, civilise, civilish, civilist, and civility. Related words include civic and civilization.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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