civil
//ˈsɪv.əl//
Forms
- Comparative
- more civil
- Superlative
- most civil
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.
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.Relating to private relations among citizens, as opposed to criminal matters.
4.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.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1171
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Uncommon
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
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.