civilize

动词 civilize:

1. train to be discriminative in taste or judgment
   同义词：educate, school, train, cultivate, civilise
2. raise from a barbaric to a civilized state
   同义词：civilise

1. His wife has had a civilizing influence on him.
   他妻子对改进他言谈举止有潜移默化的影响。
2. Many a rough man has been civilized by his wife.
   许多粗野的男人在妻子的开导下变得文雅了。

civ.i.lize

v.tr.（及物动词）
civ.i.lized,civ.i.liz.ing,civ.i.liz.es
To raise from barbarism to an enlightened stage of development; bring out of a primitive or savage state.
使文明：使…从野蛮到一个开化的发展阶段；把…带出原始社会阶段或奴隶社会阶段
To educate in matters of culture and refinement; make more polished or sophisticated.
使文雅：教以文化和优雅；使…更圆滑或老于世故

【引伸】
civ.iliz.able
adj.（形容词）
civ.iliz.er
n.（名词）