politic
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- politick (obsolete)
Etymology[edit]
From Middle French politique, from Latin politicus, from Ancient Greek πολιτικός (politikós), from πολίτης (polítēs, “citizen”). Cognate with German politisch (“political”). Doublet of politico.
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
politic (comparative more politic, superlative most politic)
- (archaic) Of or relating to polity, or civil government; political.
- the body politic
- 1593, Sir Philip Sidney, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia:
- […] he with his people made all but one politic body whereof himself was the head
- (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
- c. 1593, 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 606515358, [Act II, scene iii]:
- For then this land was famously 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
- c. 1598–1600, 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 606515358, [Act V, scene iv]:
- I have been politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy
- Shrewd, prudent and expedient.
- Discreet and diplomatic.
- 1834, Letitia Elizabeth Landon, Francesca Carrara, volume 3, page 25:
- A unanimous exclamation called upon Evelyn himself to speak; and, after a minute's politic pause, he went on to state his plan.
- 1915, T. S. Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, in Prufrock and Other Observations, published 1917:
- Deferential, glad to be of use, / Politic, cautious, and meticulous;
- Artful, crafty or cunning.
Antonyms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Noun[edit]
politic (plural politics)
- (archaic) A politician.
- 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, OCLC 863521290:
- to speake truly of politikes & Statesmen
- 1848, James Russell Lowell, The Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell, Epigrams, 3:
- Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern; / Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars.
- 1871, Benjamin Jowett, Plato: The Republic Chapter III
- And therefore our politic Asclepius may be supposed to have exhibited the power of his art only to persons who... had a definite ailment.
Verb[edit]
politic (third-person singular simple present politics, present participle politicking, simple past and past participle politicked)
- To engage in political activity; politick.
- 2002, Dana Stabenow, A Fine and Bitter Snow, →ISBN, page 206:
- That why you turned the Kanuyaq Land Trust into the IRS for using donations to politic instead of to buy land?
- 2009, Scott N. Brooks, Black Men Can't Shoot, →ISBN, page 169:
- His brother [Anthony], he politicked him so well, that even his [Jason's] attitude, all the scouts got away from [forgot about] his [bad] attitude because he was a good player.
- 2017, John Hayman, Bitter Harvest: Richmond Flowers and the Civil Rights Revolution, →ISBN:
- He made errors, and they should have reversed him, but he politicked the thing through.
Interlingua[edit]
Adjective[edit]
politic (comparative plus politic, superlative le plus politic)
Ladin[edit]
Adjective[edit]
politic m pl
Occitan[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Latin polīticus, from Ancient Greek πολιτικός (politikós).
Adjective[edit]
politic m (feminine singular politica, masculine plural politics, feminine plural politicas)
Derived terms[edit]
Romanian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Latin politicus or French politique.
Adjective[edit]
politic m or n (feminine singular politică, masculine plural politici, feminine and neuter plural politice)
Declension[edit]
singular | plural | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
masculine | neuter | feminine | masculine | neuter | feminine | ||
nominative/ accusative |
indefinite | politic | politică | politici | politice | ||
definite | politicul | politica | politicii | politicele | |||
genitive/ dative |
indefinite | politic | politice | politici | politice | ||
definite | politicului | politicei | politicilor | politicelor |
- English terms borrowed from Middle French
- English terms derived from Middle French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English doublets
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English terms with archaic senses
- English terms with usage examples
- English terms with quotations
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English verbs
- en:Personality
- Interlingua lemmas
- Interlingua adjectives
- Ladin non-lemma forms
- Ladin adjective forms
- Occitan terms derived from Latin
- Occitan terms derived from Ancient Greek
- Occitan lemmas
- Occitan adjectives
- Romanian terms borrowed from Latin
- Romanian terms derived from Latin
- Romanian terms borrowed from French
- Romanian terms derived from French
- Romanian lemmas
- Romanian adjectives