a. [ L. civilis, fr. civis citizen: cf. F. civil. See City. ] 1. Pertaining to a city or state, or to a citizen in his relations to his fellow citizens or to the state; within the city or state. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Subject to government; reduced to order; civilized; not barbarous; -- said of the community. [ 1913 Webster ]

England was very rude and barbarous; for it is but even the other day since England grew civil. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Performing the duties of a citizen; obedient to government; -- said of an individual. [ 1913 Webster ]

Civil men come nearer the saints of God than others; they come within a step or two of heaven. Preston [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Having the manners of one dwelling in a city, as opposed to those of savages or rustics; polite; courteous; complaisant; affable. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “A civil man now is one observant of slight external courtesies in the mutual intercourse between man and man; a civil man once was one who fulfilled all the duties and obligations flowing from his position as a 'civis' and his relations to the other members of that 'civitas.'” Trench [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Pertaining to civic life and affairs, in distinction from military, ecclesiastical, or official state. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Relating to rights and remedies sought by action or suit distinct from criminal proceedings. [ 1913 Webster ]

Civil action, an action to enforce the rights or redress the wrongs of an individual, not involving a criminal proceeding. --
Civil architecture, the architecture which is employed in constructing buildings for the purposes of civil life, in distinction from military and naval architecture, as private houses, palaces, churches, etc. --
Civil death. (Law.) See under Death. --
Civil engineering. See under Engineering. --
Civil law. See under Law. --
Civil list. See under List. --
Civil remedy (Law), that given to a person injured, by action, as opposed to a criminal prosecution. --
Civil service, all service rendered to and paid for by the state or nation other than that pertaining to naval or military affairs. --
Civil service reform, the substitution of business principles and methods for the spoils system in the conduct of the civil service, esp. in the matter of appointments to office. --
Civil state, the whole body of the laity or citizens not included under the military, maritime, and ecclesiastical states. --
Civil suit. Same as Civil action. --
Civil war. See under War. --
Civil year. See under Year. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Civil ] 1. One skilled in the civil law. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ancient civilians and writers upon government. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A student of the civil law at a university or college. R. Graves. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One whose pursuits are those of civil life, not military or clerical. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A civilian. [ R. ] Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Civilities [ L. civilitas: cf. F. civilité. See Civil. ] 1. The state of society in which the relations and duties of a citizen are recognized and obeyed; a state of civilization. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Monarchies have risen from barbarrism to civility, and fallen again to ruin. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gradual depature of all deeper signification from the word civility has obliged the creation of another word -- civilization. Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A civil office, or a civil process [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To serve in a civility. Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Courtesy; politeness; kind attention; good breeding; a polite act or expression. [ 1913 Webster ]

The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be. Chesterfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sweet civilities of life. Dryden.

Syn. -- Urbanity; affability; complaisance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being civilized. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. civilisation. ] 1. The act of civilizing, or the state of being civilized; national culture; refinement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our manners, our civilization, and all the good things connected with manners, and with civilization, have, in this European world of ours, depended for ages upon two principles -- . . . the spirit of a gentleman, and spirit of religion. Burke [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) Rendering a criminal process civil. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Civilized p. pr. & vb. n. Civilizing. ] [ Cf. F. civilizer, fr.L. civilis civil. See Civil. ] 1. To reclaim from a savage state; to instruct in the rules and customs of civilization; to educate; to refine. [ 1913 Webster ]

Yet blest that fate which did his arms dispose
Her land to civilize, as to subdue. Dryden [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To admit as suitable to a civilized state. [ Obs. or R. ] “Civilizing adultery.” Milton.

Syn. -- To polish; refine; humanize. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Reclaimed from savage life and manners; instructed in arts, learning, and civil manners; refined; cultivated. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sale of conscience and duty in open market is not reconcilable with the present state of civilized society. J. Quincy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, civilizes or tends to civilize. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. having or showing active concern for protection of civil liberties protected by law. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a person having or showing active concern for protection of civil liberties protected by law. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a legal right or rights belonging to a person by reason of citizenship, including especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th amendments and subsequent acts of congress, including the right to legal and social and economic equality. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. In the United States, a commission appointed by the President, consisting of three members, not more than two of whom may be adherents of the same party, which has the control, through examinations, of appointments and promotions in the classified civil service. It was created by act of Jan, 16, 1883 (22 Stat. 403). [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. The substitution of business principles and methods for political methods in the conduct of the civil service. esp. the merit system instead of the spoils system in making appointments to office. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. In a civil manner; as regards civil rights and privileges; politely; courteously; in a well bred manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To reduce from civilization to a savage state. [ R. ] Blackwood's Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. incivilis; pref. in- not + civilis civil: cf. F. incivil. ] Uncivil; rude. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Incivilities [ L. incivilitas: cf. F. incivilité. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality or state of being uncivil; lack of courtesy; rudeness of manner; impoliteness. Shak. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any act of rudeness or ill breeding. [ 1913 Webster ]

Uncomely jests, loud talking and jeering, which, in civil account, are called indecencies and incivilities. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Lack of civilization; a state of rudeness or barbarism. [ R. ] Sir W. Raleigh.

Syn. -- Impoliteness; uncourteousness; unmannerliness; disrespect; rudeness; discourtesy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. in- not + civilization. ] The state of being uncivilized; lack of civilization; barbarism. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Uncivilly. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Not civilized; savage; barbarous; uncivilized. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men can not enjoy the rights of an uncivil and of a civil state together. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not civil; not complaisant; discourteous; impolite; rude; unpolished; as, uncivil behavior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Incivility. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being uncivilized; savagery or barbarism. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Not civilized; not reclaimed from savage life; rude; barbarous; savage; as, the uncivilized inhabitants of Central Africa. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not civil; coarse; clownish. [ R. ] Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an uncivil manner. [ 1913 Webster ]