1.civil的基本含意是“公民的,平民的”,也可作“非军职的,非宗教的; 国民间的,民用的; 民事的,民法的”解,常用作定语,无比较级和最高级形式。
2.civil还可作“文明的,有教养的”解,常与介词of或to连用,可用于比较等级。

用作定语
▲～+n.
Voting is the exercise of a civil right.投票是行使一项公民权利。
We were married in a civil ceremony, not in church.我们结婚采用了非宗教仪式,没有去教堂举行婚礼。
It was a civil case.这是一起民事案件。
A civil war is one between people of the same country.内战是同一国家内的战争。
Man is a civil creature.人是文明的动物。
He said a civil good morning.他彬彬有礼地说了声早安。
用作表语
▲S+be+～
He was not at all civil.他一点礼貌也没有。
The rude sea grew civil at her song.波涛汹涌的大海在她的歌声下也变得温顺了。
▲S+be+～+prep.-phrase
The courteous boy was civil to everybody.这个谦恭的男孩对每一个人都很有礼貌。
▲It is/was+～+of sb+to-v
It was civil of them to do so.他们这样做是通情达理的。

civil, courteous, polite
参见polite条。

［同义词］   public, respectful
［反义词］   impolite, rude, uncivil
［词源］＜拉丁语civis(公民,市民)