1704, "law which makes a criminal process civil," from civilize + -ation. Sense of "civilized condition" first recorded 1772, probably from French civilisation, to be an opposite to barbarity and a distinct word from civility. Sense of a particular human society in a civilized condition, considered as a whole over time, is from 1857. Related: Civilizational.
双语例句
1. I think we can date the decline of Western Civilization quite precisely.
我认为我们可以相当准确地确定西方文明开始衰落的年代。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Civilization is on the brink of apocalypse.
文明已濒临毁灭的边缘。
来自《权威词典》
3. the technology of modern civilization
现代文明的技术
来自《权威词典》
4. I finally reached what we laughingly call civilization.
