civilize : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: civilize	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for civilize
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
civilize v teach or refine to be discriminative in taste or judgment; "Cultivate your musical taste"; "Train your tastebuds"; "She is well schooled in poetry" Synonym(s): educate, school, train, cultivate, civilize, civilise raise from a barbaric to a civilized state; "The wild child found wandering in the forest was gradually civilized" Synonym(s): civilize, civilise
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Civilize \Civ"i*lize\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Civilized}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Civilizing}.] [Cf. F. civilizer, fr.L. civilis civil. See {Civil}.] 1. To reclaim from a savage state; to instruct in the rules and customs of civilization; to educate; to refine. Yet blest that fate which did his arms dispose Her land to civilize, as to subdue. --Dryden 2. To admit as suitable to a civilized state. [Obs. or R.] [bd]Civilizing adultery.[b8] --Milton. Syn: To polish; refine; humanize.