Meaning of CIVILIZE
| Pronunciation: | | 'sivu`lI
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 WordNet Dictionary |
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- [v] raise from a barbaric to a civilized state; "The wild child found wandering in the forest was gradually civilized"
- [v] train to be discriminative; as of taste or judgment; "Cultivate your musical taste"; "Train your tastebuds"; "She is well schooled in poetry"
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| | Synonyms: | | civilise, civilise, cultivate, educate, school, train |
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| | See Also: | | alter, change, down, fine-tune, polish, refine, sophisticate | |
| Webster's 1913 Dictionary |
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| | Definition: | | \Civ"i*lize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Civilized}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Civilizing}.] [Cf. F. civilizer, fr.L. civilis civil.
See {Civil}.]
1. To reclaim from a savage state; to instruct in the rules
and customs of civilization; to educate; to refine.
Yet blest that fate which did his arms dispose Her
land to civilize, as to subdue. --Dryden
2. To admit as suitable to a civilized state. [Obs. or R.]
``Civilizing adultery.'' --Milton.
Syn: To polish; refine; humanize.
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| Thesaurus Terms |
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| | Related Terms: | | acculturate, advance, ameliorate, amend, anthropomorphize, better, boost, bring forward, broaden, broaden the mind, catechize, demonstrate, direct, domesticate, edify, educate, elevate, emend, enhance, enlighten, enrich, fatten, favor, forward, foster, give instruction, give lessons in, go straight, ground, guide, humanize, illumine, improve, improve upon, inform, instruct, lard, lift, make an improvement, make human, meliorate, mend, nurture, open the eyes, polish, promote, raise, reeducate, refine, refine upon, reform, school, set right, sharpen the wits, show, show how, socialize, straighten out, tame, teach, teach a lesson, teach the rudiments, transfigure, transform, upgrade, uplift |
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