politic

• politick (obsolete)

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

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɒlətɪk/

• Audio (RP)

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɑlətɪk/

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

   • 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]:

     For then this land was famously enrich'd / With politic grave counsel

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. 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]:

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

   • The conquerors often had to rest content with merely subduing them. In such cases the victor often found it politic to recognize and worship the god of the vanquished.
4. Shrewd, prudent and expedient.
5. Discreet and diplomatic.
   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, 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;

6. Artful, crafty or cunning.

• impolitic

• police
• policy
• political
• politician
• politicize
• politics
• polity

politic (plural politics)

1. (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:

     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, chapter III, in Plato: The Republic:

     And therefore our politic Asclepius may be supposed to have exhibited the power of his art only to persons who... had a definite ailment.

politic (third-person singular simple present politics, present participle politicking, simple past and past participle politicked)

1. Alternative spelling of 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.

politic (comparative plus politic, superlative le plus politic)

1. political

politic m pl

1. plural of politich

From Latin polīticus, from Ancient Greek πολιτικός (politikós).

politic m (feminine singular politica, masculine plural politics, feminine plural politicas)

1. political

• politizar

From Latin politicus or French politique.

politic m or n (feminine singular politică, masculine plural politici, feminine and neuter plural politice)

1. political