civ‧il S3 W2 AC / sɪv ə l / 形容词
1 [仅用于名词前] relating to the people who live in a country
civil war/disturbance/unrest etc (= fighting etc between different groups of people living in the same country ) → civil liberty , civil rights
2 [仅用于名词前] relating to the ordinary people or things in a country that are not part of military, government, or religious organizations :
They were married in a civil ceremony in May.
3 [仅用于名词前] relating to the laws about the private affairs of citizens, such as laws about business or property, rather than laws about crime → civil law , criminal :
Many civil cases can be settled out of court.
4 polite in a formal but not very friendly way → civility :
Try at least to be civil.
COLLOCATIONS
名词
civil war (= fighting between groups of people in the same country ) His family fled Spain during the Spanish civil war.
civil rights (= the right to vote, be treated fairly etc that everyone should have ) Black people marched in defence of their civil rights.
civil liberties/liberty (= the right to be free to do what you want within the law ) Detention without trial threatens our civil liberties.
civil disobedience/unrest (= when people protest or behave violently ) Unemployment has provoked widespread civil unrest.
civil disturbances/strife (= civil unrest ) Troops have been called in to deal with civil disturbances.
THESAURUS
polite behaving or speaking in a way that is correct for the social situation you are in, and showing that you are careful to consider other people’s needs and feelings : He was too polite to ask how old she was. | ‘Excuse me, sir,’ she said in a polite voice.
well-mannered having good manners and knowing the correct way to behave in social situations : She was beautifully dressed and very well-mannered.
well-behaved polite and not causing any trouble – used about children or animals : The children were very well-behaved. | Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the hotel.
courteous / kɜtiəs $ kɜr- / polite and respectful, and behaving rather formally : The hotel staff were very courteous and helpful. | a courteous reply
respectful polite and treating someone with respect : He was very respectful towards all my relatives. | ‘Thank you,’ he said with a respectful bow.
civil polite in a formal way, especially when you do not feel very friendly towards someone : She’d never liked her father-in-law, but she forced herself to be civil to him. | When you’ve stopped arguing, you might be able to have a civil conversation.
deferential formal polite towards someone, especially because they are in a more important social position : In those days women were expected to be deferential to men.