civilly
|civ-il-ly|
/ˈsɪvəli/
in a polite manner
Etymology
'civilly' ultimately derives from the adjective 'civil' + the adverbial suffix '-ly'. 'Civil' comes from Latin 'civilis', from 'civis' meaning 'citizen'; the '-ly' suffix comes from Old English '-līc' (later '-ly').
'civil' passed into English via Old French (civil) from Latin 'civilis'; the adverb 'civilly' was formed in English by adding the native adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective, producing the modern English 'civilly'.
Originally related to 'of or relating to citizens' (civic/municipal) from Latin, the sense broadened in English to include 'polite' or 'courteous' and also retained a legal sense 'in matters of civil law'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a polite or courteous manner; showing civility or good manners.
She greeted him civilly despite their disagreement.
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Adverb 2
in relation to civil law or civil proceedings (as opposed to criminally).
He was civilly liable for the damages caused by the accident.
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Last updated: 2025/09/14 03:25