politic
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈpɒlətɪk/
ipa: /ˈpɑlətɪk/
note: Indic
ipa: /ˈpɔlɨtɪk/
note: Indic
ipa: /pɵlɨˈtɪk/
Forms: form: more politic
form: most politic
form: politick
Etymology: From Middle French politique, from Latin politicus, from Ancient Greek πολιτικός (politikós), from πολίτης (polítēs, “citizen”). Cognate with German politisch (“political”). Doublet of politico.
Senses: examples: text: the body politic
text: [H]e with his people made all but one politic body whereof himself was the head
ref: a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC:
english: The New Arcadia
translation: The New Arcadia
glosses: Of or relating to polity, or civil government; political.
examples: text: a politic treaty
text: For then this land was famously enrich'd / With politic grave counsel
ref: c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
glosses: Relating to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong.
raw_tags: of things
examples: text: I have been politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy
ref: c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]:
glosses: Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious
examples: text: But as he headed for the front of the line one of his minders whispered that it might be politic to go to the back.
ref: 1999 February 28, Chris McGreal, “Nigerians give two cheers for flawed election”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
text: But campaigners in Florida accused him of turning a blind eye to the real issues with his "politic" appearance before the commission.
ref: 2001 January 12, Jane Martinson, “Jeb Bush grilled on voting irregularities”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
text: What a politician likes to do for fun (or judges it politic to pretend he does) is seen as a clue to their personality, or even their politics.
ref: 2010 April 20, Mark Lawson, “Politicians' pop-culture love-in”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
glosses: Shrewd, prudent and expedient; showing policy.
examples: text: A unanimous exclamation called upon Evelyn himself to speak; and, after a minute's politic pause, he went on to state his plan.
ref: 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter IV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 25:
text: Deferential, glad to be of use, / Politic, cautious, and meticulous; […]
ref: 1915 June, T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, in Prufrock and Other Observations, London: The Egoist […], published 1917, →OCLC, page 15:
glosses: Discreet and diplomatic.
glosses: Artful, crafty or cunning.
Derived terms: politicese
politicism
politicist
politicker
politicly
politicness
politicspeak
superpolitic
unpolitic
Related terms: body politic
police
policy
political
politician
politicize
politics
polity