Also 4–7 with usual interchange of u and v, i and y, l and ll, le. [a. F. civil ad. L. cīvīl-is of or pertaining to citizens (f. cīvis citizen), their private rights, etc., hence relating to the body of citizens or commonwealth, political, public; also, pertaining to the citizen as distinct from the soldier; and citizen-like, polite, courteous, urbane. The sense-development, being already effected in L., has received only slight extension in Fr. and Eng.]
1. Of or belonging to citizens; consisting of citizens, or men dwelling together in a community, as in civil society, civil life; also, of the nature of a citizen, as † civil man, † civil creature. The literal sense ‘of citizens’ is rare (quot. 1848).
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., Prol. (Globe). Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. § 10 (R.). Ciuill Society doth more content the nature of man then any priuate kind of solitary liuing.
1598. Florio, Inurbare, to endenizen, to become or make a citizen, or a ciuill man.
1655. Carter, Hon. Rediv. (1660), 63. Man as a Civill creature, was directed to this form of subjection.
1680. Waller, Earl Roscommmon’s Horace, 50, in R.’s Wks., 1780, p. xxix. (J.). Civil life was by the Muses taught.
1690. J. Harrington, Def. Rights Univ. Oxford, 7. And for a civil man to go to the Vice Chancellor for leave to be out of his house.
a. 1770. Jortin, Serm., VII. i. 14. Since then infants are subjects of the State and members of civil society.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 669. The proudest capitals of Western Europe have streamed with civil blood.
2. Of or pertaining to the whole body or community of citizens; pertaining to the organization and internal affairs of the body politic, or state.
1494. Fabyan, 4. London, that auncyent Cytie … I thynke somwhat to expresse, or theyr good ordre, and Cyuyle polycy, That they so longe haue ruled theyr Cytie by.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 34. The inhabitantes … keepe also a certayn ciuile iustice and frendly loue one to another.
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VII. xv. § 5. To exercise civil dominion of their own.
1606. Bp. Hall, Art Divine Medit., xiv. 76–7 The heathen Romans entred not vpon any publike ciuile busines, without a solemne apprecation of good successe.
1765. Blackstone, Comm., I. I. xii. 309. The civil state consists of the nobility and the clergy.
1830. Mackintosh, Eth. Philos., Wks. 1846, I. 37. If he had turned to civil institutions, he might have learned that some nations had preserved an ancient, simple, and seemingly rude mode of legal proceeding.
3. Civil war, strife, troubles, etc.: such as occur among fellow-citizens or within the limits of one community.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), IV. 189. A batayle ciuile bygan bytwene Julius and … Pompeus.
1494. Fabyan, V. cxviii. 93. A louer of cyuyle batayle.
1550. J. Coke, Eng. & Fr. Herald, § 24 (1877), 63. Contencions and warres … amonge themselves or with theyr neyghbours, whiche the Romaynes call the cyvyle warre.
1559. Bp. Scot, in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. App. vii. 12. As we see for civill quietness, there is appointed in every Village one constable.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 625. Domesticall dyscorde, and cyvill discencion.
1579. Fulke, Refut. Rastel, 763. By means of ciuil and externe warres.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., III. iii. 102. With ciuill and vnciuill Armes. Ibid. (1595), John, IV. ii. 247. Hostilitie, and ciuill tumult reignes.
1603. Drayton, Bar. Wars, II. xlv. (R.). When that prooued and victorious sheeld, Must in this ciuill massacre be torne.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 125, ¶ 3. A furious Party-Spirit, when it rages in its full Violence, exerts itself in Civil War and Bloodshed.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 173. Compelled by civil troubles to go into banishment.
1865. Kingsley, Herew., I. ix. 213. Such a method would give rise to intrigues, envyings, calumnies, murders, fratricidal civil wars.
b. The Civil War: in England applied specifically to the struggle between the Parliament and Charles I. in the 17th c.; in U. S. often to the War of Secession, of 1861–5.
[1649. Bp. Reynolds, Hosea, vi. 104. We are now under the heavy calamity of a Civill warre.]
1712. Budgell, Spect., No. 313, ¶ 16. The Civil War broke out … one of them followed the Parliament, the other the Royal Party.
a. 1834. Mackintosh, Revolution, Wks. 1846, II. 13. Their sufferings in the royal cause during the civil war.
† 4. Civic, municipal. Civil crown: = civic crown. Obs.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VI. xiii. 37. With ciuile crownis of the strang aik tre.
1590. Marlowe, Edw. II., III. iii. 30. Make England’s civil towns huge heaps of stones.
1713. Guardian (1756), I. No. 49. 215. The folly of the civil landlord in London, who … is a stranger to fresh air and rural enjoyments.
5. Of or pertaining to the individual citizen.
1788. Priestley, Lect. Hist., V. xxxix. 281. The power which the community leaves him possessed of with respect to his own conduct, may be called his civil liberty.
1793. Blackstone, Comm. (ed. 12), 149. That system of laws … calculated to maintain civil liberty.
1841. Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 62. Slaves have no civil liberty; but are entirely under the authority of their owners.
6. Becoming or befitting a citizen.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 44. These iiii cardynall vertues, Temperaunce, Justice ciuyle or morall, Fortitude … and Prudence.
1628. Feltham, Resolves, II. lxii. (1677), 288. There is a Civil Hatred when men in general detest Vice.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 21/2. To esteem the deceased holy is pious, to spare the absent, just, to take away the eternity of hatred, civil.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), IV. 61. For the instruction of heathen children in christian duties and civil knowledge.
1862. Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), IV. xxxiii. 105. It was civil, in the Roman sense, to mingle in the amusements of the citizens.
1883. T. H. Green, Proleg. Ethics, Introd. 7. That civil spirit through which the promptings of personal passion are controlled.
† 7. Having proper public or social order; well-ordered, orderly, well-governed. Obs.
1592. Shaks., Two Gent., V. iv. 156. They are reformed, ciuill, full of good. Ibid. (1599), Hen. V., I. ii. 199. The ciuil Citizens kneading vp the hony.
1600. Dymmok, Treat. Ireland (1843), 13. The south parte [of the County of Wexford] as the more cyvill.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., V. i. 16. Ciuill streets.
1641. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 33. A more quiet, clean, elegantly built, and civil place, than this magnificent and famous city of Antwerp.
1659. Milton, Rupt. Commw. (1847), 439/2. That Army, lately so renown’d for the civilest and best order’d in the world.
1685. Morden, Geogr. Rectified, 38. Ireland is a Flourishing Island, Civil in its self, and a good additional strength to the British Empire.
8. In that social condition which accompanies and is involved in citizenship or life in communities; not barbarous; civilized, advanced in the arts of life.
1553. Eden, Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.), 36. A region wel inhabited and ful of ciuile people.
1579. Cyuile & Vncyuile Life, To Rdrs. Do wee not finde that the sauadge Nations, are as lothe to alter their soyle, as are wee that inhabite a most cyuill Countrey?
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, I. ii. (Arb.), 30. Among the Latines of the ciuiller ages.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 680. Beasts are more Hairy than Men; and Savage Men more than Civil.
1682. Milton, Hist. Mosc., Pref. 567. Moscovy … being the most northern region of Europe reported civil.
1697. Potter, Antiq. Greece, II. v. (1715), 237. The Practice of all Nations, whether Civil or barbarous.
1708. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., II. I. ii. (1743), 311. On the other side … the People are much more civil.
1829. Southey, O. Newman, vii. As in civil, so in barbarous states.
1841. Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), II. xxxvi. 32. From my long silence of late, you will no doubt have deemed me out of the civil, and perhaps out of the whole world.
† 9. Educated; well-bred; refined, polished, ‘polite.’ Obs. a. of persons.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 42. A kinde of Symphonie whiche the common sort call a Pipe: the learned and more ciuil kinde of men name it a Dulcimer.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., II. (Arb.), 130. A learned preacher, or a Ciuill Ientleman.
1628. Wither, Brit. Rememb., 29. Unbeseeming jests, And stuffe which every civill care detests.
1647. Evelyn, Corr. (1857), III. 5. My character … for the civilest Traveller that ever returned.
a. 1704. Locke, Lett. (1708), 31. I know what latitude civil and well bred men allow themselves.
b. of things.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., I. (Arb.), 64. This schole philosophie … thinketh all thinges mete for euery place. But there is an other philosophye more ciuile, whyche knoweth … her owne stage.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, III. xviii. (Arb.), 200. The Greekes call it Asteismus, we may terme it the ciuill iest.
1612. Brerewood, Lang. & Relig., iii. 23. To their own languages, which they held to be more civil than the Roman.
1716. Cibber, Love makes Man, IV. Hard by, Sir, at an House of civil Recreation.
c. Public, popular.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. xi. § 3. The conceits … (now almost made Ciuile) of the Maistring Spirite, and the force of confidence, and the like.
† 10. Of apparel. Not gay or showy; sober, decent, grave; also, of persons, decent or seemly in behavior, customs, etc. Obs.
1606. Dekker, Sev. Sinnes, I. (Arb.), 13. In words, is he circumspect: in lookes, graue: in attire, ciuill.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., VI. xx. 105. Wantonly clad in the habit of an Amazon woman; alwayes costly, but seldome ciuill.
1612. T. Taylor, Comm. Titus ii. 11. 450. Let this worke be neuer so ciuill and seemely.
c. 1622. Fletcher, Woman’s Prize, III. iii. Wks. (1647), 110/1. That fourteen yardes of satten give my woman, I do not like the colour, tis too civill.
a. 1691. Virgin’s Compl., in Bayford Ballads (1878), 931. Dolly, Molly, Susan, Bess, Pretty Maids in civil Dress.
† 11. Humane, gentle, kind. Obs.
1613. R. C., Table Alph. (ed. 3), Ciuill, honest in conuersation, or gentle in behauiour.
1648. Milton, Observ. Art. Peace (1851), 557. Poynings Act, which was … the civillest and most moderate acknowledgment impos’d of thir dependance on the Crown of England.
1661. Trial James, in Howell, St. Trials (1816), VI. 104. The sheriff and hangman were so civil to him in his execution, as to suffer him to be dead before he was cut down.
1684. trans. Eutropius, VII. 121. He was so civil in his government at Rome, that none ever was punished.
12. Polite or courteous in behavior to others; sinking, in recent use, to ‘decently polite,’ ‘up to the ordinary or minimum standard of courtesy,’ or the merely negative sense of ‘not (actually) rude’; while courteous and polite denote positive qualities.
Courteous is thus more commonly said of superiors, civil of inferiors, since it implies or suggests the possibility of incivility or rudeness.
1606. Holland, Sueton., 101. A passing civill Apophthegme of his extant which hee uttered in the Senate.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., I. (1843), 13/2. A man … whom he had endeavoured by many civil offices to make his Friend.
1653. Walton, Angler, i. 38. We’l drink a civil cup to all the Otter Hunters that are to meet you to morrow.
1681. Ray, Corr. (1848), 130. Your very civil and obliging letter.
1718. Freethinker, No. 61. 38. A youth ought … always to shew a Civil Regard to his Elders.
1760. Goldsm., Cit. W., lxxvii. They were certainly the civillest people alive.
1796. Jane Austen, Pride & Prej., xviii. With an expression of civil disdain, thus accosted her.
1814. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., XII. 138. I am sorry to add that I did not receive so civil an answer as ought to have been given to any body.
a. 1839. Praed, Poems (1864), I. 231. And never said one civil thing When you were by to hear one.
1840. Lever, H. Lorrequer, ii. The proud Earl of Callonby, who never did the ‘civil thing’ anywhere.
Mod. ‘I hope he answered you politely.’ ‘Well, he was civil, which is something.’
13. transf. Of animals and things.
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, II. 70 b. Aristotle saithe, that the Crane is a ciuill byrde, Quia sub Duce degit.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 71. The hils of the Alps, waxing more mild and ciuil.
a. 1667. Jer. Taylor, Serm. (1678), 326. A Lybyan Tiger … shut up and taught to eat civil meat.
1887. Stevenson, Underwoods, I. ii. 3. Let the streams in civil mode Direct your choice upon a road.
II. Since civil connotes what pertains to the citizen in his ordinary capacity, it is distinguished from various words expressing specific departments, and thus often opposed to these as a negative term.
1832. Austin, Jurispr. (1879), II. xliv. 780. The word civil has about twelve different meanings; it is applied to all manner of objects which are perfectly disparate. As opposed to criminal, it means all law not criminal. As opposed to ecclesiastical it means all law not ecclesiastical; as opposed to military it means all law not military; and so on.
14. Distinguished from military: non-military. Also (as in CIVIL SERVICE), from military and naval.
1612. Davies, Why Ireland, etc. 69. Sir Anthony St. Leger … performed great seruice in a ciuill course…. Sir Edward Bellingham, who succeeded him, proceeded in a Martiall course against the Irishry.
1632. G. Herbert, Temple, Church-Porch, xxxiv. Game is a civil gunpowder, in peace Blowing up houses with their whole increase.
1738. Glover, Leonidas, I. 411. Around him flow’d In civil pomp their venerable robes.
1741. Middleton, Cicero (1742), II. vii. 278. As long as it was carried on by civil methods, one ought to take the honester side; but when it came to arms the stronger.
1826. J. F. Cooper, Mohicans, i. A large civil cocked hat, like those worn by clergymen.
1875. Bryce, Holy Rom. Emp., ii. (ed. 5), 6. His sovereignty was civil as well as military.
15. Distinguished from ecclesiastical: non-ecclesiastical; and, with extended application, non-religious, non-sacred, secular.
1592. trans. Junius on Rev. xiii. 1. One is of the civill Roman Empire … another of the Ecclesiastical or Propheticall.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 34. Both in religious and civill Wisdome.
1667. Waterhouse, Fire Lond., 67. To inundate things sacred and civil.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), III. 288. Civil and canon law, civil and ecclesiastical history.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 74. Talents and virtues, civil, military, or religious.
1830. Mackintosh, Eth. Philos., Wks. 1846, I. 37. Civil and ecclesiastical oppressors.
† b. Theol. Naturally good or virtuous, but unregenerate; moral; good as a citizen, but not as a saint. Hence civil righteousness. Obs.
1619. W. Sclater, Expos. 1 Thess. (1630), 40. A ciuill Christian obseruing these duties without knowledge of their iniunction in the Word of God, is as farre from Sanctification as were Heathen Moralists.
1655. Gouge, Comm. Heb., II. 470. Meere civill men are such as suppose all religion to consist in the externall duties of the second Table.
1663. Blair, Autobiog., i. (1848), 4. Being then only civil, till many years thereafter the Lord showed her mercy.
1676. W. Row, Suppl. Blair’s Autobiog., x. (1848), 166. Many that were civil before having become exceedingly loose.
c. Civil Magistrate: the temporal authority as distinguished from the ecclesiastical.
1651. C. Cartwright, Cert. Relig., II. 16. Luther admonishing to obey the Civil Magistrate.
1769. Blackstone, Comm., IV. 108. An entire exemption of it’s clergy from any intercourse with the civil magistrate.
16. Law. Distinguished from criminal: Pertaining to the private relations between members of a community, and to the legal proceedings employed in settling them. Also distinguished from political (as in ‘political offence, trial, etc.)
1611. Cotgr., Civilizer vn criminel. To change his Indictment into an action; to turne a criminall, into a ciuill, cause.
1764. Burn, Poor Laws, 289. Civil, implies an offence of a private nature, betwixt party and party, and not where the king is party.
1858. Ld. St. Leonards, Handy Bk. Prop. Law, xxii. 170. No person who shall have taken such civil proceeding can commence any prosecution under the Act.
1887. Fowler, Princ. Morals, II. iii. 145. A Civil Injury (as distinct from a Crime) is a wrong for which the law awards reparation to the injured individual.
17. Legal as distinguished from natural; in the eye of the law and in all that respects legal rights or standing; ‘as a person banished or outlawed, is said to suffer civil, though not natural death’ (J.).
1656. Jeanes, Mixt. Schol. Div., 161. Buried in a civill grave of captivity, and most miserable servitude.
1650. Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, iii. § 3. 208 (J.). Let nothing make you break your promise, unlesse it be unlawful or impossible, that it, either out of your natural, or out of your civil power.
c. 1680. Beveridge, Serm. (1729), I. 71. When he hath given it to us, we have a civil right to it.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 121. It may also determine by his civil death; as if he enters into a monastery, whereby he is dead in law.
18. Of divisions of time: Distinguished from natural, astronomical, solar, etc. Legally recognized for the purposes of ordinary life and social organization.
Thus the civil day in modern times consists of 24 hours and begins at midnight; the civil year contains 365 days, and in leap year 366, beginning on the 1st of Jan., etc.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 36. Those that have defined and set out a civil day.
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., I. vi. § 1. 91. The ordinary or civil year did want intercalation.
1812. Woodhouse, Astron., ix. 66. The common civil year … of 365 days.
19. Of, pertaining or according to the Roman CIVIL LAW. (See below.)
1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1684), II. 316. Unless I should use that civil remedy called in law Acceptilation.
1596. Shaks., Merch. V., V. i. 210. No Woman had it, but a ciuill Doctor.
20. See CIVIL LAW (RIGHT), CIVIL LIST, CIVIL SERVICE, SERVANT, in their alphabetical places; Civil Engineer, see ENGINEER.
B. as sb.
† 1. = CIVILIAN 1; civil law personified. Obs.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 57. Now Simonye and Siuyle stondeþ forþ boþe. Ibid., B. II. 113. Þis dede I assele Bi siȝte of Sire Symonye and cyuyles [A. II. 82 Notaries] leue. Ibid., B. XX. 136. To þe arches in haste he ȝede anone after, And torned Ciuile in-to Symonye. Ibid. (1393), C. III. 71. Preyþ cyuyle it to see and symonye it to rede.
† 2. pl. Civil matters, concerns or affairs; τὰ πολιτικὰ. Obs.
1646. Saltmarsh, Some Drops, ii. 74.
1654. G. Goddard, in Burton’s Diary (1828), I. Introd. 19. [Neither] from the Levellers, who would introduce a party in civils, nor from the Sectaries, who would cry down all order and government in spirituals.
1676. Marvell, Gen. Councils, Wks. 1875, IV. 152. Oppression and persecution in civils and spirituals.
1717. Wodrow, Corr. (1843), II. 319. Arbitrary Government in civils, and persecution for matters of conscience.
† 3. pl. Civil standing or position. Obs.
1650. B., Discolliminium, 48. For my Civills, some say I am a Gentleman, some say an Esquire.
† 4. pl. Citizens, commons. Obs.
1658. Sir A. Haslerigge, in Burton’s Diary (1828), III. 99. As glorious a work for our civils, to put an end to the King and Lords. The right is … without all doubt, in the people.
C. as adv. = CIVILLY. Obs.
1642. J. Eaton, Honey-c. Free Justif., 229. If he were meerely civill honest, it leaves him still meerely civill honest.
1767. Babler, No. 12. I never heard of a man who behaved commonly civil to a woman, who [etc.].
D. in combination (parasynthetic), as civil-mannered, -tongued, etc. See also CIVIL-WEALTH.
1621. Fletcher, Island Princess, I. iii. The people they show brave too, civil-manner’d.
1632. Milton, Penseroso, 122. Till civil-suited Morn appear.
