Civility

Civility
Civility Ci*vil"i*ty, n.; pl. {Civilities}. [L. civilitas: cf. F. civilit['e]. 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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • civility — index amenity, comity, consideration (sympathetic regard), courtesy, decorum, respect Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • civility — late 14c., status of a citizen, from CIVIL (Cf. civil) + ITY (Cf. ity). Later especially good citizenship (1530s). Also state of being civilized (1540s); behavior proper to civilized persons (1560s) …   Etymology dictionary

  • civility — ► NOUN (pl. civilities) 1) politeness and courtesy. 2) (civilities) polite remarks used in formal conversation …   English terms dictionary

  • civility — [sə vil′ə tē] n. pl. civilities [ME civilite < OFr < L civilitas (< civilis,CIVIL), politics, hence politic behavior, politeness] 1. politeness, esp. in a merely formal way 2. a civil, or polite, act or utterance …   English World dictionary

  • civility — UK [səˈvɪlətɪ] / US [sɪˈvɪlətɪ] noun Word forms civility : singular civility plural civilities formal a) [uncountable] polite behaviour I expect to be treated with a little more civility. b) civilities [plural] polite comments, questions etc,… …   English dictionary

  • civility — ci|vil|i|ty [sıˈvılıti] n formal 1.) [U] polite behaviour which most people consider normal →↑civil ▪ Please have the civility to knock before you enter next time. 2.) civilities [plural] something that you say or do in order to be polite ▪ We… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • civility — ci|vil|i|ty [ sı vıləti ] noun FORMAL uncount polite behavior: I expect to be treated with a little more civility. a. civilities plural polite comments, questions, etc., especially between people who meet in a formal situation: Jean wasted no… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • civility — noun 1 (U) polite behaviour which most people consider normal: Please have the civility to knock before you enter next time. 2 civilities (plural) formal something that you say or do in order to be polite: We exchanged civilities when we were… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • civility — noun 1) he treated me with civility Syn: courtesy, courteousness, politeness, good manners, graciousness, consideration, respect, politesse, comity Ant: disrespect, rudeness 2) she didn t waste time on civiliti …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • civility — /səˈvɪləti / (say suh viluhtee) noun (plural civilities) 1. courtesy; politeness. 2. a polite attention or expression. 3. (usually plural) polite conversation: to exchange civilities. 4. Obsolete civilisation; culture: to achieve civility …  

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