Synonyms for civil

Grammar : Adj

Spell : siv-uhl

Phonetic Transcription : ˈsɪv əl

Top 10 synonyms for civil

Other synonyms for the word civil

Définition of civil

Origin : late 14c., "relating to civil law or life; pertaining to the internal affairs of a state," from Old French civil "civil, relating to civil law" (13c.) and directly from Latin civilis "relating to a citizen, relating to public life, befitting a citizen," hence by extension "popular, affable, courteous;" alternative adjectival derivation of civis "townsman" (see city).
The sense of "polite" was in classical Latin, from the courteous manners of citizens, as opposed to those of soldiers. But English did not pick up this nuance of the word until late 16c. "Courteous is thus more commonly said of superiors, civil of inferiors, since it implies or suggests the possibility of incivility or rudeness" [OED]. Civil case (as opposed to criminal) is recorded from 1610s. Civil liberty is by 1640s. Civil service is from 1772, originally in reference to the East India Company.

adj civic, community
adj obliging, kind

Example sentences :

Yet he is not possessed of the civil rights which citizenship should carry with it.
Extract from : « United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches » by Various

In the following century came the three sieges of the Civil War.
Extract from : « Yorkshire Painted And Described » by Gordon Home

“I can walk,” he said, with a little friendly laugh to the civil driver.
Extract from : « The Secret Agent » by Joseph Conrad

It might be thought that I would have a right to civil answers here.
Extract from : « In the Valley » by Harold Frederic

In 1875 he was created an honorary member of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Extract from : « Heroes of the Telegraph » by J. Munro

When a man makes a fair offer, it's no more 'n civil to close with it.
Extract from : « Tiverton Tales » by Alice Brown

If it is the crown of sex to be desired, here you have it, under seal of the civil bond.
Extract from : « Tiverton Tales » by Alice Brown

Let him remember that he is also a man; and let his manner be manly as well as civil.
Extract from : « The Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 10, No. 58, August, 1862 » by Various

But I wouldn't value all one pin's pint, if it was kind and civil she was to me.
Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth

You're as blind as most folks were five years before the Civil War.
Extract from : « The Harbor » by Ernest Poole

Antonyms for civil

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019