different between uncivil vs churlish

English

Etymology

un- +? civil

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?v?l

Adjective

uncivil (comparative more uncivil, superlative most uncivil)

1. Not civilized

   Synonyms: savage, barbarous, uncivilized

2. Not civil; discourteous; impolite

   uncivil behavior

   • 2007, The Times, 24 Dec 2007:

     John Terry and Frank Lampard would not have reacted as the Nigerian did to the (admittedly X-rated) challenge that led to the Liverpool forward being sent off in last week’s Carling Cup quarter-final against Chelsea. All very dangerous, all very uncivil.

   • 2008, New York Times, 4 Feb 2008:

     But since you probably weren’t there, and be thankful for that, here is a quick primer on local, uncivil civics so that you might appreciate the recent political clamor in this part of eastern Tennessee.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:impolite

See also

• incivil

References

• uncivil in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• uncivil in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

English

Etymology

From Middle English churlysshe, cherlissh, from late Old English ?eorlis?, ?ierlis? (“of or pertaining to churls”), equivalent to churl +? -ish.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?t???l??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?t???l??/
• Rhymes: -??(r)l??

Adjective

churlish (comparative more churlish, superlative most churlish)

1. Of or pertaining to a serf, peasant, or rustic.
   • 1996, Jeet Heer, Gravitas, Autumn 1996

     […] the eloquence and truth of his tribute stands in marked contrast to Kramer's churlish caricature of Kael as a happy pig wallowing in the dirt.

   Synonym: rustic

2. Rude, surly, ungracious. [from late 14th c.]

   Synonyms: cross-grained, rude, surly, ungracious
3. Stingy or grudging.

   Synonyms: grudging, illiberal, miserly, niggardly, stingy

4. (of soil) Difficult to till, lacking pliancy; unmanageable.
   • 1730–1774, Oliver Goldsmith, Introductory to Switzerland

     Where the bleak Swiss their stormy mansion tread,

     And force a churlish soil for scanty bread.

Related terms

Translations