A member of Civitan International, a community service organization founded in the United States dedicated to civic improvement and charitable work.
From 'civic' or the Latin root 'civis' (citizen) plus the suffix '-an' (indicating a member or practitioner). Civitan International was founded in 1917, so the term emerged in early 20th-century America.
Civitan clubs spread across America and the world by promoting local service—the name itself is a perfect example of how old Latin roots get repurposed for new organizations that embody the spirit of the original meaning.
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