civilize
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Civilize — Civ i*lize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Civilized}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Civilizing}.] [Cf. F. civilizer, fr.L. civilis civil. See {Civil}.] 1. To reclaim from a savage state; to instruct in the rules and customs of civilization; to educate; to refine.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
civilize — c.1600, from Fr. civiliser, lit. to make citified, from O.Fr. civil, from L. civilis (see CIVIL (Cf. civil)). Related: Civilized; civilizing … Etymology dictionary
civilize — (Amer.) civ·i·lize || sɪvɪlaɪz v. educate, cultivate, humanize, refine, tame (also civilise) … English contemporary dictionary
civilize — [v] make cultured; develop acculturate, acquaint, advance, better, cultivate, edify, educate, elevate, enlighten, ennoble, enrich, ethicize, foster, help forward, humanize, idealize, improve, indoctrinate, inform, instruct, polish, promote,… … New thesaurus
civilize — (also civilise) ► VERB 1) bring to an advanced stage of social development. 2) (civilized) polite and good mannered. DERIVATIVES civilizer noun … English terms dictionary
civilize — [siv′ə līz΄] vt., vi. civilized, civilizing [Fr civiliser < L civilis: see CIVIL & IZE: lit. etym. sense, “to make citified”] 1. to bring or come out of a primitive or savage condition and into a state of civilization 2. to improve in habits… … English World dictionary
civilize — UK [ˈsɪvəlaɪz] / US [ˈsɪvɪˌlaɪz] verb [transitive] Word forms civilize : present tense I/you/we/they civilize he/she/it civilizes present participle civilizing past tense civilized past participle civilized 1) to make someone behave in a more… … English dictionary
civilize — [[t]sɪ̱vɪlaɪz[/t]] civilizes, civilizing, civilized VERB To civilize a person or society means to educate them and improve their way of life. [V n] ...a comedy about a man who tries to civilise a woman but she ends up civilising him... [V ing] It … English dictionary
civilize — verb they were trying to civilize people who strongly resented the intrusion Syn: enlighten, edify, improve, educate, instruct, refine, cultivate, polish, socialize, humanize … Thesaurus of popular words
civilize — verb ( lized; lizing) Date: 1601 transitive verb 1. to cause to develop out of a primitive state; especially to bring to a technically advanced and rationally ordered stage of cultural … New Collegiate Dictionary
