ˈsɪvl adj. 1 of or belonging to citizens. 2 of
ordinary citizens
and their concerns, as
distinct from military or
naval or
ecclesiastical matters. 3
polite,
obliging,
not rude. 4
Law relating to civil law (see below), not
criminal or
political matters (civil
court; civil lawyer). 5 (of
the length of a
day,
year, etc.) fixed by
custom or law, not
natural or
astronomical. øcivil
aviation non-military,
esp.
commercial aviation. civil
commotion a
riot or
similar disturbance. civil
defence the
organization and
training of civilians
for the
protection of
lives and
property during and
after attacks in
wartime. civil disobedience the
refusal to
comply with certain laws or to pay taxes etc. as a
peaceful form of political
protest. civil
engineer an engineer
who designs or maintains roads, bridges, dams, etc. civil
engineering this work. civil law 1 law
concerning private rights (opp. criminal law). 2
hist.
Roman or non-ecclesiastical law. civil
libertarian an
advocate of increased civil
liberty. civil liberty (often in pl.)
freedom of
action and
speech subject to the law. civil list (in the UK) an
annual allowance voted by
Parliament for the
royal family's
household expenses. civil
marriage a marriage solemnized as a civil
contract without religious ceremony. civil rights the rights of citizens to political and
social freedom and
equality. civil
servant a
member of the civil service. civil service the
permanent professional branches of
State administration, excluding military and
judicial branches and elected politicians. civil state
being single or
married or divorced etc. civil
war a war
between citizens of the
same country. civil year see YEAR 2. øøcivilly adv. [ME f. OF f. L civilis f. civis citizen]