civil
UK: ˈsɪv.əl | US: ˈsɪv.əl
adj. relating to ordinary citizens or community matters (e.g., civil rights)
adj. polite and formal in behavior (e.g., civil conversation)
adj. legal context: non-criminal (e.g., civil law)
civil = civ<citizen> + il<adjective suffix>
- civ (from Latin civis, meaning "citizen")
- il (Latin-derived suffix forming adjectives, often indicating relation or quality)
Etymology Origin:
The word civil traces back to Latin civilis, derived from civis (citizen). It originally described matters pertaining to citizens or the state (e.g., civil law). Over time, it expanded to denote polite behavior (as expected among citizens in a society) and legal distinctions (e.g., civil vs. criminal cases). The root civ also appears in words like civic and civilization, reinforcing its connection to communal life.
The civil engineer designed the bridge to withstand heavy traffic.
Despite their disagreement, they kept the discussion civil.
Civil rights movements have shaped modern democracies.
The case was moved to civil court for contractual disputes.
His civil demeanor made him well-liked in the community.