cit

A city dweller walks their dog in the park.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A citizen (informal): "cit" is a shortened, informal term for a citizen, particularly a civilian as opposed to a member of the military or police force.
   • A townsperson or city dweller: In historical or colloquial usage, "cit" refers to an inhabitant of a city or town, often implying a non-military status.

Usage Examples

• Noun (civilian):

  • The officers in cits mingled with the crowd. (Officers wearing civilian clothes mixed with the public.)
  • During the war, the cits were evacuated for safety. (The civilian population was moved to a safer location.)

• Noun (townsperson):

  • The old cit walked through the market square every morning. (The elderly city dweller strolled through the market.)
  • He was a proud cit of London, never having left the city. (He was a proud resident of London.)

Advanced Usage

• "in cits": wearing civilian clothes (opposite of being in uniform).

  • The general appeared in cits at the charity event. (The general wore ordinary clothing, not his uniform.)

• "cit" as a historical term: In 17th–19th century English, "cit" was a mildly derogatory term for a townsman, often contrasted with a gentleman or a soldier.

  • The cit was mocked for his provincial manners. (The city dweller was ridiculed for his unsophisticated behaviour.)

Variants and Related Words

• Citizen (n): a legally recognized subject or national of a state or commonwealth.

  • She is a citizen of Canada. (She holds Canadian nationality.)

• Civic (adj): relating to a city or town, or to citizenship.

  • The civic centre hosts community events. (The city's public building hosts local gatherings.)

• Civilian (n): a person not in the armed services or the police force.

  • The civilian was unharmed during the conflict. (The non-military person was safe.)

Synonyms

• Civilian: a person not in the military.
• Townsman: an inhabitant of a town or city.
• City-dweller: a person who lives in a city.

Related Idioms

• "Cit and soldier": an old contrast between civilian and military life.
  • The poem contrasts the life of a cit with that of a soldier. (It compares a civilian’s existence to a soldier’s.)

Notes

• "Cit" is now rarely used in modern English outside of historical or military contexts. It is often considered archaic or slang.