CIVILITY • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Civility

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/səvˈɪləti/ Listen

noun

Civility n. (pl. civilities)

The state of society in which the relations and duties of a citizen are recognized and obeyed; a state of civilization. (Obs.) "Monarchies have risen from barbarrism to civility, and fallen again to ruin." "The gradual depature of all deeper signification from the word civility has obliged the creation of another word civilization."

A civil office, or a civil process (Obs.) "To serve in a civility."

Courtesy; politeness; kind attention; good breeding; a polite act or expression. "The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be." "The sweet civilities of life."

Synonyms: Urbanity; affability; complaisance.

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Etymology of 'Civility'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Civility" Quotes from Famous Books

... is "Jesper and the Hares." Here, however, it is not at first resourcefulness that helps the hero, but sheer kindness of heart, which prompts him first to help the ants, and then to show civility to the old woman, without for a moment expecting any material benefit from such actions. At the end, he does win on his own ingenuity and resourcefulness, and if we regret that his trickery has such wonderful results, we must remember the ...

— The Art of the Story-Teller • Marie L. Shedlock

... with civility, but answered coldly, that any further advances on his own part were out of the question, unless he had reason to believe the young lady was inclined to retract her refusal; in which case he should be happy to wait upon her. With this response Venoni returned to make another ...

— The International Monthly, Volume 5, No. 3, March, 1852 • Various

... female clerks are not satisfactory. Their strength is not equal to the draughts made upon it. They are not able to stand so long as clerks are required to stand. They have not the patience, the civility, the tact that male clerks have.... All the voting in the world can never add a cubit to a ...

— The True Woman • Justin D. Fulton

... placed herself between Sir John and the door. He felt himself groaning inwardly. Was that awful girl mad? What did her strange telegram mean? And why, if Mrs. Bernard Temple sent for him in a hurry, had she not the civility to wait at home to see him? This was really taking matters with a free-and-easy hand with a vengeance. The proud Sir John had never felt more thoroughly angry in his life. He stalked up to Antonia now, and endeavoured to pass her, but she dodged ...

— Red Rose and Tiger Lily - or, In a Wider World • L. T. Meade

... collation which she was giving about four o'clock to the ladies who made up her little circle. An hour afterwards the abbe and the chevalier sent a second time to inquire after her; the marquise, without paying particular attention to this excessive civility, which she remembered afterwards, sent word as before that she was perfectly well. The marquise had remained in bed to do the honours of her little feast, and never had she felt more cheerful. At the hour named all her guests arrived; the ...

— CELEBRATED CRIMES, COMPLETE - THE MARQUISE DE GANGES--1657 • ALEXANDRE DUMAS, PERE

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