civil

civil adj

1 *civic, civilian

2 Civil, polite, courteous, courtly, gallant, chivalrous are comparable as applied to persons or their words and acts when in intercourse with others with the meaning observant of the forms required by good breeding.

Civil commonly suggests the bare fulfillment of the ordinary requirements of social intercourse; it frequently implies little more than forbearance from rudeness

{

it was an entirely civil greeting, but that was all you could say of it— Christo-pher La Far ge

}

{

this man . . . cut short one of our party, and addressed a silly remark to Spencer .... Spencer's answer was civil, but brief and not inviting— Fiske

}

Polite, while sometimes suggesting a merely perfunctory attitude, is more positive than civil; it commonly implies thoughtfulness for the feelings of others, united with polish of manners and address

{

nothing was ever so serene as his countenance, so unembarrassed as his manner, so polite as his whole demeanor— Landor

}

{

the Bishop seldom questioned Jacinto about his thoughts or beliefs. He didn't think it polite— Cather

}

Courteous implies more considerate and dignified, courtly, more stately and ceremonious, observance of due civilities

{

owns a fine old historical painting in Châteldon and he was courteous enough to permit me to view it— Upton Sinclair

}

{

be courteous to all, but intimate with few— Washington

}

{

his great-uncle, a courtly and stately old gentleman— Symonds

}

Gallant and chivalrous imply courteous attentiveness to women.

But gallant suggests spirited and dashing or ornate and florid expressions of courtesy

{

the General attended her himself to the street door, saying everything gallant . . . admiring the elasticity of her walk, which corresponded exactly with the spirit of her dancing— Austen

}

{

the qualities ... of surface chivalry and gallant attentiveness in her brilliant American friend had for a moment seemed to reveal a lack in me— Ellis

}

{

in a moment he was all gallant anxiety and solicitude— Wylie

}

Chivalrous suggests high-minded, disinterested, sometimes self-sacrificing attentions

{

nothing can beat a true woman for a clear vision of reality; I would say a cynical vision if I were not afraid of wounding your chivalrous feelings— Conrad

}

{

with what chivalrous accents would he address . . . those witty and wise women of old worlds— L. P. Smith

}

{

she had fainted from weakness and he had felt strangely chivalrous and paternal— Glasgow

}

Analogous words: complaisant, obliging, *amiable: *gracious, affable, cordial: politic, diplomatic, bland, urbane, *suave

Antonyms: uncivil, rude

Contrasted words: churlish, boorish, loutish (see under BOOR): ill-mannered, impolite, discourteous, ungracious (see RUDE)