civilize

Where does the word "civilize" come from? It comes from Latin civis, passing through Latin and French before entering English (1600s).

Civilize’s story begins in Latin: civis meant “citizen.” Citizen, giving rise to civilis (of citizens, civil). Within Latin, it grew into civilis by ancient. Of citizens, polite, from civis. From there it passed into French as civilize by 1600s. Formed from civil for bringing a society out of a primitive state. It reached English by 1600s as civilize. Settled as the English word for bringing a society to a more advanced, ordered state. Today, civilize means to bring a society or people to a more advanced, socially ordered state.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient civis "citizen", citizen, giving rise to civilis (of citizens, civil).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient civilis "of citizens, polite", of citizens, polite, from civis.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1600s civilize "to bring a society out of a primitive state", formed from civil for bringing a society out of a primitive state.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1600s civilize "to bring a society to a more advanced, ordered social state", settled as the English word for bringing a society to a more advanced, ordered state.