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policer

to civilize, to refine

verb po-lee-SEH Rare

Also means

to regulate, to police

Usage Note

Policer means to bring order or refinement to a society or behavior — a literary and formal verb rarely heard in everyday conversation. It is not the same as faire la police ('to police' in the law-enforcement sense). The reflexive se policer describes a society or group gradually adopting more civilized norms.

Examples

"L'éducation sert à policer les mœurs."

Natural Translation

Education serves to refine morals.

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