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