Civilising: meaning, definitions and examples
🏛️
civilising
[ ˈsɪv.ɪ.laɪ.zɪŋ ]
cultural development
The term 'civilising' refers to the process of bringing a society or group to a more advanced state of cultural, social, and moral awareness. This can involve the introduction of education, laws, and ethical systems designed to uplift and improve the society. The civilising process often entails promoting values of respect, tolerance, and enlightenment. Throughout history, various civilizations have undertaken civilising missions, sometimes viewed controversially depending on the context and outcomes.
Synonyms
cultivating, educating, improving, refining
Examples of usage
- The civilising mission of the empire was often justified as a noble cause.
- Efforts in civilising often include education and moral guidance.
- The civilising influence of art can enhance community engagement.
Translations
Translations of the word "civilising" in other languages:
🇵🇹 civilizando
🇮🇳 सभ्य बनाना
🇩🇪 zivilisierend
🇮🇩 peradaban
🇺🇦 цивілізуючий
🇵🇱 cywilizujący
🇯🇵 文明化する
🇫🇷 civilisant
🇪🇸 civilizando
🇹🇷 uygarlaştıran
🇰🇷 문명화하는
🇸🇦 تحضر
🇨🇿 civilizující
🇸🇰 civilizujúci
🇨🇳 文明化的
🇸🇮 civilizirajoč
🇮🇸 siðmenntunar
🇰🇿 цивилизациялаушы
🇬🇪 ცივილიზაციას
🇦🇿 mədəniyyətləşdirən
🇲🇽 civilizando
Etymology
The word 'civilising' is derived from the Latin root 'civilis', which means 'pertaining to a citizen'. This term has evolved through Old French and Middle English, gaining its modern form in the 19th century. The concept of 'civilising' became particularly prominent during periods of imperial expansion, when European powers sought to impose their cultural norms on other societies. With colonialism, the term often carried a paternalistic connotation, implying that non-European societies were 'savage' or 'primitive'. As societal values have evolved, the implications of civilising missions have been re-evaluated, leading to increased discourse on cultural relativism, the ethics of intervention, and post-colonial theories.