civil
adjectivecommon in dialogue
- Australia//ˈsɪv.əl//
Having to do with people and government office as opposed to the military or religion.
adjective
- 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; 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
archaicIn 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
Relating to private relations among citizens, as opposed to criminal matters.
a civil case
- 5
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.
Etymology
From Middle English cyvyl, civil, borrowed from Old French civil, from Latin cīvīlis (“relating to a citizen”), from cīvis (“citizen”) ultimately from proto-Indo-European *ḱey-. Cognate with Old English hīwen (“household”), hīrǣden (“family”). More at hind; hird. (polite): Compare typologically urbane (<< Latin urbs), courteous (akin to court).
Forms
- comparative
- more civil, civiler
- superlative
- most civil, civilest
civil · Having to do with people and government office as opposed to the military or religion.
Civil · A surname.civilian · A person following the pursuits of civil life, especially one…civilians · Synonym of civvies