Dec 8, 2017
What is the difference between "civile" and "civique" in the context of frev? and what is "civisme" for that matter ?
An excellent question, Citizen Anon!
“Civil(e)” is a neutral term: literally that which concerns citizens, according to the Dictionnaire de l’Académie française (1762 and 1798 editions). “Civique” can either be a simple synonym of “civil,” or, as it frequently does during the Revolution, have a positive connotation and can be translated as public-spirited, with “civisme” as the noun-form: public-spiritedness.
