Civilities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Polite gestures or courteous actions that express respect or consideration towards others
2. Formalities that may include greetings, mannerisms, or social niceties in interactions
3. Social conventions or behaviors that promote courteous interactions

Etymology: "Civilities" is simply the plural of "civility," so its history is the history of that base noun. "Civility" was borrowed from Latin "civilitas," a noun built on "civilis," meaning "of a citizen" or "relating to the community," itself derived from "civis," "citizen." The original idea was therefore not politeness as such but the manners expected of people living together in a city or a community. English built "civility" from its adjective "civil" plus the suffix "-ity," which turns an adjective into a noun of quality. French took the same Latin base as "civilité," and English speakers borrowed the word in that orbit. Over time, the sense narrowed from the broad condition of belonging to a civilized community toward the courteous conduct that such a community depends on, and the plural "civilities" came to mean particular acts of courtesy.

Synonyms: politeness, courtesy, manners, decorum, respect

Antonyms: rudeness, impoliteness, discourtesy, incivility, vulgarity