civilization English · revision 10550

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1704|origins=en civilize}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌsɪv.əl.aɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/, US /ˌsɪv.əl.əˈzeɪ.ʃən/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from [[civilize]] and [[-ation]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) its main sense probably taken from French [[m|fr|civilisation]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In law, an act or judgement that turns a criminal process into a civil one: 1704, a sense now obsolete.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The civilized condition of a people, an advanced state of society opposed to barbarity, is recorded by 1772,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and the process of civilizing from 1775.^(OED 1989) Etymonline quotes Fitzedward Hall (1873), who praised the word for relieving [[civility]] of one of its meanings.^(Etymonline) A particular civilized society considered as a whole over time is from 1857.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1704 – a legal process.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1772 – a civilized condition.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1775 – the process of civilizing.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1857 – a particular society.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An advanced state of human [[society]], with developed culture, science, [[writing]] and political organization.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A particular society or culture at a particular time: ''ancient Egyptian civilization''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The peoples or nations that have reached such a state, taken together.^(Collins 2023)

+ # The process of civilizing or being civilized.^(OED 1989)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[civilizational]]

+ * [[hypercivilization]]

+ * [[intercivilization]]

+ * [[overcivilization]]

+ * [[postcivilization]]

+ * [[subcivilization]]

+ * [[decivilization]]

+ * [[precivilization]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[civilize]]

+ * [[civil]]

+ * [[civility]]

+ * [[citizen]]

+ * [[city]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}