CIVILITY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does civility mean? 

• CIVILITY (noun)
  The noun CIVILITY has 2 senses:

1. formal or perfunctory politeness

2. the act of showing regard for others

  Familiarity information: CIVILITY used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CIVILITY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Formal or perfunctory politeness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("civility" is a kind of...):

courtesy; good manners (a courteous manner)

Attribute:

civil; polite (not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages and sufficient but not noteworthy consideration for others)

rude; uncivil (lacking civility or good manners)

Antonym:

incivility (deliberate discourtesy)

Derivation:

civil (not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages and sufficient but not noteworthy consideration for others)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of showing regard for others

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

civility; politeness

Hypernyms ("civility" is a kind of...):

action (something done (usually as opposed to something said))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "civility"):

courtesy (a courteous or respectful or considerate act)

deference; respect (a courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard)

devoir (formal expression of respect)

Derivation:

civil (not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages and sufficient but not noteworthy consideration for others)

 Context examples 

Her opinion was sought as to the probable continuance of the open weather, but her answers were as short and indifferent as civility allowed.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

The name seemed to strike them all; and, after speaking to her with great civility, the eldest young lady observed aloud to the rest, “How excessively like her brother Miss Morland is!”

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

His civilities to the other ladies must be paid; but his subsequent object was to lament over himself for the heat he was suffering, and the walk he had had for nothing.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Did you see nothing but only civility?

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“You may depend upon it, Madam,” said Miss Bingley, with cold civility, “that Miss Bennet will receive every possible attention while she remains with us.”

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I desired the captain would please to accept this ring in return for his civilities; which he absolutely refused.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

“Thank you, sir,” returned Joyce with the same quiet civility.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

How can you go on as if it was all settled and arranged, Peggotty, when I tell you over and over again, you cruel thing, that beyond the commonest civilities nothing has passed!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Seeing a respectably-dressed person, a lady as she supposed, she came forward with civility.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Captain Wentworth made a very early return to Mr Musgrove's civility, and she was all but calling there in the same half hour.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)