v. [app. f. 16th c. F. civilizer (Cotgr.) now civiliser; app. representing a med. or mod.L. civilizare, to make civil (a criminal matter), whence transferred to ‘make civil’ in other senses; f. cīvīl-is CIVIL + verbal formative -izāre, ad. Gr. -ίζειν, in mod.F. -iser, Eng. -IZE, q.v.]
1. To make civil (sense 7); to bring out of a state of barbarism, to instruct in the arts of life, and thus elevate in the scale of humanity; to enlighten, refine and polish. To civilize away; to do away with, by civilization.
1601. Cornwallyes, Ess., II. xxviii. And ciuilized, or ciuited … kisse the hand.
1611. Cotgr., Civilizer. To ciuilize, bring to ciuilitie, make ciuill, to tame, quiet, reclaime.
1631. Massinger, Emperor East, I. ii. I … civilize Their barbarous natures.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., II. 102. The doctrine of the Gospell … Christianizeth men, and then civilizeth them.
1713. Addison, Cato, I. iv. To civilize the rude unpolish’d world.
1780. Johnson, in Boswell, 30 Aug. A very savage parish was civilized by a decayed gentlewoman, who came among them to teach a petty school.
a. 1876. J. H. Newman, Hist. Sk., I. I. iv. 179. Christianity itself has never, I think, suddenly civilized a race.
† b. To subject to civil authority. Obs.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, IV. 147. It is more easie to ciuilize them by conquest then faire meanes.
1725. De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 251. The king of Spain did not allow troops sufficient to civilize and reduce them.
c. To polish what is rude or uncouth.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., II. xix. 124. If I can civilize his rudenesse by my sword.
1748. Chesterf., Lett., II. cliv. 49. Your exercises of riding, fencing, and dancing will civilize and fashion your body and your limbs.
d. transf. To domesticate, tame (wild animals).
1721. Bradley, Philos. Acc. Wks. Nat., 63–4. For the Pike … as it is a Fish of Prey, it has been thought impossible to civilize it, or make it any way familiar with Mankind.
† 2. To make ‘civil’ (sense 15 b) or moral; to subject to the law of civil or social propriety.
a. 1640. W. Fenner, Sacr. Faithfull, ii. (1648), 57. He doth not say civilize your members; many there be that civilize their earthlie members. [Cf. CIVILITY 9.]
† 3. To make lawful or proper in a civil community. Obs. rare.
1643. Milton, Divorce, II. xii. (1851), 92. With an ignominious note of civilizing adultery.
4. Law. To turn a criminal into a civil cause.
In mod. Dicts. [Cotgr. has F. civilizer in this sense.]
5. intr. To become civilized or elevated.
1868. W. Greg, Lit. & Soc. Judg., 410. If they [the negroes] are to civilize … they must work either at a trade … or on their own grounds.
† 6. intr. To conform to the requirements of civil life, to behave decently.
1605. Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. Law. I Civilize, least that I seeme Obscœne.
