Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “civilisation” come from?

Civilisation derives from French civilisation, from French civiliser, from French civil, from Latin -atio and Latin -izo, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱey-.

civilisation (English): Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and...

Definitions

  1. Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and...

Ancestry of “civilisation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchcivilisationcivilization
2French-ation-ation
3Middle French-ation-ation
4Old French-ation-ation
5Latin-ātiō—
6Latin-tiō—
7Latindissertātiō—
8Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
9Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
10Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
11Latincalceusshoe
12Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
13Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “civilisation”

  • civilisational
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →