civility

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ci=vil=i=ty

CIDE DICTIONARY

civility, n. [L. civilitas: cf. F. civilité. See Civil.].

•  The state of society in which the relations and duties of a citizen are recognized and obeyed; a state of civilization.  [1913 Webster]

  "Monarchies have risen from barbarrism to civility, and fallen again to ruin."  [1913 Webster]

  "The gradual depature of all deeper signification from the word civility has obliged the creation of another word -- civilization."  [1913 Webster]
•  A civil office, or a civil process  [1913 Webster]

  "To serve in a civility."  [1913 Webster]
•  Courtesy; politeness; kind attention; good breeding; a polite act or expression.  [1913 Webster]

  "The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be."  [1913 Webster]

  "The sweet civilities of life."

Syn. -- Urbanity; affability; complaisance.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

civility, n. (pl. -ies)
1 politeness.
2 an act of politeness.

Etymology

ME f. OF civilit{eacute} f. L civilitas -tatis (as CIVIL)

THESAURUS

civility

acculturation, act of courtesy, affability, agreeableness, amenities, amenity, amiability, appropriateness, attention, becomingness, bienseance, ceremonies, civilities, civilization, clubbability, clubbishness, clubbism, comity, communicativeness, companionability, compatibility, complaisance, conformity, congeniality, considerateness, consideration, convenance, convention, conventional usage, conventionalism, conventionality, cordiality, correctness, courteousness, courtesy, courtliness, cultivation, culture, custom, decencies, decency, decorousness, decorum, deference, dignities, diplomacy, diplomatic code, education, elegance, elegancies, enculturation, enlightenment, etiquette, exquisite manners, familiarity, favor, felicity, fitness, fittingness, fondness for society, form, formalities, formality, friendliness, geniality, genteelness, gentilities, gentility, good form, good manners, graceful gesture, gracefulness, graces, graciousness, gregariousness, happiness, hospitality, intimacy, manners, meetness, mores, natural politeness, point of etiquette, polish, polite act, politeness, politesse, properness, proprieties, propriety, protocol, punctilio, quiet good manners, refinement, respect, respectfulness, rightness, rites, rituals, rules of conduct, seemliness, sociability, sociableness, social code, social conduct, social convention, social grace, social graces, social procedures, social usage, sociality, socialization, solicitousness, solicitude, suitability, tact, tactfulness, thoughtfulness, urbanity

ROGET THESAURUS

civility

Courtesy

N courtesy, respect, good manners, good behavior, good breeding, manners, politeness, bienseance, urbanity, comity, gentility, breeding, polish, presence, civility, civilization, amenity, suavity, good temper, good humor, amiability, easy temper, complacency, soft tongue, mansuetude, condescension, affability, complaisance, pr_evenance, amability, gallantry, pink of politeness, pink of courtesy, compliment, fair words, soft words, sweet words, honeyed phrases, ceremonial salutation, reception, presentation, introduction, accueil, greeting, recognition, welcome, abord, respects, devoir, regards, remembrances, kind regards, kind remembrances, love, best love, duty, empty encomium, flattering remark, hollow commendation, salaams, obeisance, bow, courtesy, curtsy, scrape, salaam, kotow, kowtow, bowing and scraping, kneeling, genuflection, obsequiousness, capping, shaking hands grip of the hand, embrace, hug, squeeze, accolade, loving cup, vin d'honneur, pledge, love token, kiss, buss, salute, mark of recognition, nod, nods and becks and wreathed smiles, valediction, condolence, courteous, polite, civil, mannerly, urbane, well-behaved, well- mannered, well-bred, well-brought up, good-mannered, polished, civilized, cultivated, refined, gentlemanlike, gallant, on one's good behavior, fine spoken, fair spoken, soft-spoken, honey-mouthed, honey- tongued, oily, bland, obliging, conciliatory, complaisant, complacent, obsequious, ingratiating, winning, gentle, mild, good-humored, cordial, gracious, affable, familiar, neighborly, diplomatic, tactful, politic, artful, courteously, with a good grace, with open arms, with outstretched arms, a bras ouverts, suaviter in modo, in good humor, Int, hail!, welcome!, well met!, ave!, all hail!, good day, good morrow!, Godspeed!, pax vobiscum!, may your shadow never be less!, Tien de plus estimable que la ceremonie, the very pink of courtesy.