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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†CIVILS, n.pl. Civil matters (as distinguished from criminal). Obs. earlier in Eng., last Eng. quot. in N.E.D. 1676.Sc. 1717 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) II. 319:
Arbitrary Government in civils, and persecution for matters of conscience.

[D.O.S.T. gives civil, adj., from 1400, and ellipt. as noun = civil law, from c.1420.]

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