Meaning of Incivility | Babel Free

Definitions

1. The state of being uncivil; lack of courtesy; rudeness in manner.
   uncountable
2. Any act of rudeness or ill-breeding.
   countable
3. Lack of civilization; a state of rudeness or barbarism.
   uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“Courtezan. How say you now? is not your husband mad? / Adriana. His incivility confirms no less.”

“1668, David Lloyd, Memoires of the Lives, Actions, Sufferings, and Deaths of those Noble, Reverend, and Excellent Personages that suffered by Death, Sequestration, Decimation, and otherwise for the Protestant Religion, London: Samuel Speed, “The Life and Death of Robert Berkley,” p. 96, Beat on proud Billows, Boreas blow, Swell curled Waves, high as Jove’s roof, Your incivility doth show, That Innocence is tempest proof.”

“Little did Mr. Willoughby imagine, I suppose, when his looks censured me for incivility in breaking up the party, that I was called away to the relief of one whom he had made poor and miserable […]”

“[S]he could not bear incivility to her guests, to young men in particular, […]”

“Latona, in her flight from Juno, is churlishly intreated by the Lycian pesants, and denied the publique benefit of water: for which incivility these bawling Clownes are changed into croaking froggs, and confined unto that Lake for ever.”

“In truth, vve thought it (coming immediately from an infected place) an hazardous incivilitie, to put our ſelves upon them; for if any ſiniſter accident had fallen out about the ſame time (for Coincidents are not alvvaies Cauſes) vve ſhould have rued it for ever.”

“Mr. Lovelace, for three days together, sent twice each day to inquire after my brother’s health; and, altho’ he received rude, and even shocking returns, he thought fit, on the fourth day, to make in person the fame inquiries; and received still greater incivilities from my two uncles, who happen’d to be both there.”

“When my poor Sidebottom was alive, if there had been any unpleasantness between us during the day … I have shaken him at night to wake him up, that he might receive my pardon for an incivility said or done.”

“BEAT on, proud billows; Boreas blow; / Swell, curled waves, high as Jove's roof; / Your incivility doth ſhow, / That innocence is tempeſt proof; / Though ſurly Nereus frown, my thoughts are calm; / Then ſtrike, Affliction, for thy wounds are balm. [Attributed to Roger L'Estrange (1616–1704).]”

CEFR level