civil

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Polite and reasonable, even when you disagree with someone.

   They managed to stay civil during the argument.

2. 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. 3
   adj

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

   The march was part of the fight for civil rights.

Common collocations

• a civil war Adjective + noun

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).

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