01 a. 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.
-
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.
-
2.
Subject to government; reduced to order; civilized; not barbarous; -- said of the community.“England was very rude and barbarous; for it is but even the other day since England grew civil.” — Spenser.
-
3.
Performing the duties of a citizen; obedient to government; -- said of an individual.“Civil men come nearer the saints of God than others; they come within a step or two of heaven.” — Preston
-
4.
Having the manners of one dwelling in a city, as opposed to those of savages or rustics; polite; courteous; complaisant; affable.
-
5.
Pertaining to civic life and affairs, in distinction from military, ecclesiastical, or official state.
-
6.
Relating to rights and remedies sought by action or suit distinct from criminal proceedings.
Phrases & compounds
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 —
See under Death.
Civil engineering —
See under Engineering.
Civil law —
See under Law.
Civil list —
See under List.
Civil remedy —
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.