Civilising

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Causing a place or group to become more polite, refined, and conforming to social norms
2. Transforming behavior or customs to be more cultured and orderly
3. Bringing about improvements in manners and social conduct to align with accepted standards

Etymology: "Civilising" is the British spelling of the present participle of "civilise," so its history is really that of its base verb. "Civilise" comes from French "civiliser," which derives from Latin "civilis," meaning relating to citizens or the state. That adjective was built on "civis," a citizen. The link to manners is the surprising part. Classical Latin "civilis" also came to mean courteous, affable, and gentle, qualities expected of people who lived together in a community rather than apart from it. The modern sense of improving conduct grew from that idea: good behaviour was seen as the mark of belonging to an ordered society, and to civilise someone meant bringing them into that order.

Synonyms: enlightening, educating, refining, cultivating, improving

Antonyms: barbarizing, savage, uncivilized, degrading, brutalizing