Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Politic
Pol′i-tic
,Adj.
[L.
politicus
political, Gr. [GREEK] belonging to the citizens or to the state, fr.[GREEK] citizen: cf. F. politique
. See Police
, and cf. ePolitical
.] 1.
Of or pertaining to polity, or civil government; political;
as, the body
. See under politic
Body
. He with his people made all but one
politic
body. Sir P. Sidney.
2.
Pertaining to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong; – said of things;
“Enrich’d with politic grave counsel.” as, a
. politic
treatyShak.
3.
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; and in a bad sense, artful; unscrupulous; cunning; – said of persons.
Politic
with my friend, smooth with mine enemy. Shakespeare
Syn. – Wise; prudent; sagacious; discreet; provident; wary; artful; cunning.
Polˊi-tic
,Noun.
A politician.
[Archaic]
Bacon.
Swiftly the
Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars.
politic
goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern;Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars.
Lowell.
Webster 1828 Edition
Politic
POL'ITIC
,Adj.
1.
Wise; prudent and sagacious in devising and pursuing measures adapted to promote the public welfare; applied to persons; as a politic prince.2.
Well devised and adapted to the public prosperity; applied to things. This land was famously enriched
With politic grave counsel.
3.
Ingenious in devising and pursuing any scheme of personal or national aggrandizement, without regard to the morality of the measure; cunning; artful; sagacious in adapting means to the end, whether good or evil. I have been politic with my friend, smooth with my enemy.
4.
Well devised; adapted to its end, right or wrong.Definition 2024
politic
politic
See also: polític
English
Alternative forms
- politick (obsolete)
Adjective
politic (comparative more politic, superlative most politic)
- (archaic) Of or relating to polity, or civil government; political.
- the body politic
- (Can we date this quote?) Sir Philip Sidney
- He with his people made all but one politic body.
- (archaic, of things) Relating to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong.
- a politic treaty
- (Can we date this quote?) Shakespeare
- enrich'd with politic grave counsel
- (archaic) 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
- (Can we date this quote?) Shakespeare
- Politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy.
- (Can we date this quote?) Shakespeare
- Shrewd, prudent and expedient.
- Discreet and diplomatic.
- Artful, crafty or cunning.
Antonyms
Related terms
Noun
politic (plural politics)
- (archaic) A politician.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)
- Lowell
- Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern; / Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars.