[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

civilize \civ"ilize\, v. t. imp.  p. p. civilized; p. pr. 
   vb. n. civilizing. cf. f. civilizer, fr.l. civilis civil.
   see civil.
   1. to reclaim from a savage state; to instruct in the rules
      and customs of civilization; to educate; to refine.
      1913 webster

            yet blest that fate which did his arms dispose
            her land to civilize, as to subdue.   --dryden
      1913 webster

   2. to admit as suitable to a civilized state. obs. or r.
      "civilizing adultery." --milton.

   syn: to polish; refine; humanize.
        1913 webster
see also:
civilized civilizing civil 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

civilize
     v 1: train to be discriminative in taste or judgment; "cultivate
          your musical taste"; "train your tastebuds"; "she is
          well schooled in poetry" syn: educate, school, train,
           cultivate, civilise
     2: raise from a barbaric to a civilized state; "the wild child
        found wandering in the forest was gradually civilized"
        syn: civilise
see also:
educate school train cultivate civilise 

[3] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

66 moby thesaurus words for "civilize":
   acculturate, advance, ameliorate, amend, anthropomorphize, better,
   boost, bring forward, broaden, broaden the mind, catechize,
   demonstrate, direct, domesticate, edify, educate, elevate, emend,
   enhance, enlighten, enrich, fatten, favor, forward, foster,
   give instruction, give lessons in, go straight, ground, guide,
   humanize, illumine, improve, improve upon, inform, instruct, lard,
   lift, make an improvement, make human, meliorate, mend, nurture,
   open the eyes, polish, promote, raise, reeducate, refine,
   refine upon, reform, school, set right, sharpen the wits, show,
   show how, socialize, straighten out, tame, teach, teach a lesson,
   teach the rudiments, transfigure, transform, upgrade, uplift

Civilize >> C Words
Civilize, definition of term: Civilize
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