CIVILLY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does civilly mean? 

• CIVILLY (adverb)
  The adverb CIVILLY has 1 sense:

1. in a civil manner

  Familiarity information: CIVILLY used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CIVILLY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In a civil manner

Context example:

he treats his former wife civilly

Antonym:

uncivilly (in an uncivil manner)

Pertainym:

civil (not rude; marked by satisfactory (or especially minimal) adherence to social usages and sufficient but not noteworthy consideration for others)

 Context examples 

“Suppose we turn down here for the present,” said Mrs. Rushworth, civilly taking the hint and following them.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Under the circumstances, what could Jo do but greet him civilly, and invite him in?

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She returned it with pleasure, and then advancing still nearer, he spoke both to her and Mrs. Allen, by whom he was very civilly acknowledged.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Then he asked his way civilly enough, and I told him where the gate of the empty house was; he went away, followed by threats and curses and revilings from our man.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“Uriah!” said I, as civilly as I could, after a silence.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

“I beg your pardon, Dr. Lanyon,” he replied civilly enough.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Mrs. John Dashwood said nothing; but her husband civilly hoped that she would not be settled far from Norland.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

She shook her head, she "was sorry she could give me no information," and the white door closed, quite gently and civilly: but it shut me out.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

You will make my excuses, my dear, as civilly as possible.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The manager, a big blond German, received us civilly and gave a clear answer to all Holmes’s questions.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)