politic – Wiktionary

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle French politique, from Latin politicus, from Ancient Greek πολιτικός (politikós), from πολίτης (polítēs, “citizen”). Cognate with German politisch (“political”).

Pronunciation[edit]

Adjective[edit]

politic (comparative more politic, superlative most politic)

1. (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

2. (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

3. (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. 1599, William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act V, scene iv:

     I have been politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy

4. Shrewd, prudent and expedient.
5. Discreet and diplomatic.
6. Artful, crafty or cunning.
   • 1579, John Lyly, Euphues and his England:

     And surely me thinketh we cannot better bestowe our time on the Sea, then in aduice how to behaue our selues when we come to the shore: for greater daunger is there to ariue in a straunge countrey where the inhabitauntes be politique, then to be tossed with the troublesome waues, where the Marriners be vnskilfull.

Antonyms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Noun[edit]

politic (plural politics)

1. (archaic) A politician.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Francis Bacon to this entry?)

   • 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.

   • (Can we date this quote by Plato and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?), The Republic 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)

1. 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)

1. political

Adjective[edit]

politic m pl

1. plural of politich

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)