Obs. [ad. med.L. civilista (used by Fortescue De Laud. Leg. Angl. viii.), f. L. cīvīlis civil (law), after canonista CANONIST.]

1

  1.  = CIVILIAN 1.

2

1549.  Compl. Scot., Prol. 10. As necessair, as … ane cordinar, charpenteir, captan, ciuilist, or ony vthir crafft or sciens.

3

a. 1631.  Donne, Ess. Divinity (1651), 54. The Civilists have dignified the word Privilege.

4

c. 1725.  W. Orem, Hist. Aberdeen, in Bibl. Top. Brit. (1782), V. III. 136. Patrick Gordon … was made civilist at the King’s restoration; and … exchanged the said office with this office of humanist [= Professor of Humanity].

5

  2.  Theol. = CIVILIAN 2.

6

1626.  W. Fenner, Hidden Manna (1652), A 10 b. The lukewarmling and the civilist, his own knowledge in the Scripture tels him, he must live holier and ferventlier.

7

  † 3.  A political student, a politician. Obs.

8

1736.  Warburton, Alliance Ch. & State, I. v. Wks. 1811, VII. 55. If as a religionist he entered into society … as a civilist he constituted a commonwealth.

9