More evidence of just how imprecise language can be. To most people words mean what they THINK they mean and few bother with reading definitions. At least one commercial for a medical gadget describes it as "virtually pain free." In the context you can tell that they mean "nearly" or "almost" pain free, but "virtually" is an absolute and not an approximation. I conveniently dismissed the other definition of "civil" to make a point, but all wars deeply affect civilians and upset the civil structure, so they are both civil and uncivil at the same time. Meanwhile I want information on the Missouri 10th Cavalry Regiment and their activities during the Uncivil War of Northern Aggression/Southern Rebellion/Between the States. Anybody have any documentation? Bill, in KC =-=-=-=-= > --- Bill Morgan <wmorgan1@kc.rr.com> wrote: > >> Somehow I don't feel it fitting to refer to any war >> as "civil." Isn't the >> term an oxymoron? > > Actually, you're thinking of the other definition. > The definition for Civil in this case would be > something like: > Of, relating to, or befitting a citizen or citizens: > civil duties. (rather than being courteous.) :)