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Glite Dictionary
semicivilized

semicivilized

1 7.7
A society partly developed in manners and culture but not fully modern
  • adjective
  • /ˌsɛmiˈsɪvəlˌaɪzd/
  • Offensive
: semicivilizado
  • The community was still semicivilized despite its advancements.

Examples

  • The early settlers considered the region to be semicivilized compared to their homeland.

  • Many regions remain semicivilized in their practices.

  • Some historians described the ancient kingdom as semicivilized due to its mix of traditions.

  • The novel portrays a semicivilized society struggling to adopt new customs.

  • The traveler described the remote village as a semicivilized community, where basic amenities were available, but modern conveniences were still absent.

  • Despite their semicivilized state, the tribe maintained rich traditions and a unique form of governance.

  • In his novel, the author depicted a semicivilized society struggling between ancient customs and the influences of modernity.

Antonyms

civilized
5 4.3

Advanced in social and cultural development and polite in behaviour

How Civilized

sophisticated
110 6.7
cultured
21 5.1
civilized
5 4.3
semicivilized
  • Offensive
1 7.7
uncivilized
  • Offensive
14 5.9
primitive
171 5.1

Surface Forms

semicivilized positive

Morphology

semicivilized = civilized (transparent) = semi + civil + ize + ed

The word transparently means 'partly civilized' through the productive prefix semi- attached to civilized.

Etymology

The word semicivilized combines semi- meaning 'half', as in semicircle, with civilized from civil meaning 'citizen' or 'city'. So semicivilized suggests 'half-civil' — partly polite or cultured — which is why it means partly developed in culture or manners.