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.
权威例句
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。
2. Civilization is on the brink of apocalypse.
文明已濒临毁灭的边缘。
3. the technology of modern civilization
现代文明的技术
4. I finally reached what we laughingly call civilization.