Words / B2

SIV-uh-lyz/ˈsɪvəlaɪz/

To civilise is to bring a society into a more organised or “developed” way of life (often biased in older sources; British -ise): a civilising mission. Civilisation is the noun (already in the dictionary); civil is of citizens (already elsewhere). Quote who claimed to civilise whom, then evaluate the bias. Mix-up: civilian; civilise as a compliment in a modern essay without scare quotes. US: civilize. Do not repeat imperial language as if it were a fact.

Meaning

To bring a society into a more organised or “developed” way of life (often biased in older sources; British spelling).

Examples

• “Quote who claimed to civilise whom, then evaluate the bias, the empire paper said.”
• “The source’s “civilising mission” needs inverted commas, which is the bias-alert sense.”

Good to know

civilise + people / place; a civilising mission. Noun: civilisation. US: civilize. Trap: civilian. History and citizenship. Organised society — check whose voice and bias.

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