uncivil
Meaning
Not polite; rude or discourteous.
Not civilized; barbarous.
Structure
Usage
His uncivil remarks created a tense atmosphere during the debate.
It is considered uncivil to interrupt someone while they are speaking.
The explorer documented what he described as the uncivil customs of the isolated tribe.
Etymology
The word 'uncivil' is a straightforward English formation, combining the native negative prefix 'un-' with the Latinate adjective 'civil'. The core concept stems from Latin civis (citizen). Civilis described qualities pertaining to a citizen, which in a functioning society implied politeness and order. By adding the negating prefix, 'uncivil' directly inverts these qualities, denoting a lack of the courtesy expected in civil society or a state of being uncivilized. Its logic is transparent: that which is "not civil" is either impolite or barbarous.
Analysis
- un: A prefix of Germanic (Old English) origin, meaning "not," used to form negatives. - civil: From Latin civilis, relating to a citizen (civis). In English, it developed the senses of "polite" (befitting a citizen) and "civilized."