policy

plural policies

1. countableuncountableA principle of behaviour, conduct which an entity (government, organization, etc.) applies or seeks to follow, especially as formally expressed by an authoritative body.First known use 15th c.

   The Communist Party has a policy of returning power to the workers.

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   It's company policy that all mobile phones are forbidden in meetings.

   Federal policy is constructed in complex ways, involving legislation, regulation, and lobbying.

2. countableuncountableA document describing such a policy.

   Please print extra copies of this policy and post them where it will be easy for everyone to see.

3. countableuncountableWise, advantageous, or politic conduct; prudence, formerly also with connotations of craftiness.First known use 15th c.

   These bitter accusations might have been suppressed, had I with greater policy concealed my struggles, and flattered you into the belief of my being impelled by unqualified, unalloyed inclination; […]

   1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter XI, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume II, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 131

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   [H]e [Richard I of England] was diſcovered in an inne in Auſtria, becauſe he diſguiſed his perſon not his expenſes; ſo that the very policie of an hoſteſſe, finding his purſe ſo farre above his clothes, did detect him: […]

   1639, Thomas Fuller, “King Richard Taken Prisoner in Austria; Sold and Sent to the Emperour; Dearly Ransomed, Returneth Home”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] Thomas Buck, one of the printers to the Universitie of Cambridge [and sold by John Williams, London], →OCLC, book III, page 130

4. archaiccountableuncountableSpecifically, political shrewdness or (formerly) cunning; statecraft.First known use 15th c.

   I, 'policie? that's their profession, And not simplicity, as they suggest.

   c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I

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   Whether he believed himself a god, or only took on the attributes of divinity from motives of policy, is a question for the psychologist, since the historical evidence is indecisive.

   1946, Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, I.25

5. Scotlandcountablein pluraluncountableThe grounds of a large country house.First known use 18th c.

   1775, Samuel Johnson, A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland section on Aberbrothick Now and then about a gentleman’s house stands a small plantation, which in Scotch is called a policy, but of these there are few, and those few all very young.

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   There was but one thing happened worth narrating; and that is the visit I had of Robin Oig, one of the sons of the notorious Rob Roy. He was sought upon all sides on a charge of carrying a young woman from Balfron and marrying her (as was alleged) by force; yet he stepped about Balquhidder like a gentleman in his own walled policy.

   1886 May 1 – July 31, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: […], London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 1886, →OCLC

   Next morning was so splendid that as he walked through the policies towards the mansion house despair itself was lulled.

   1955, Robin Jenkins, The Cone-Gatherers, Canongate, published 2012, page 36

   The house and its policies (grounds) lie between what were once two or three separate hamlets.

   1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 277, about Strachur

6. countableobsoleteuncountableThe art of governance; political science.First known use 14th–18th c.

   Liſt his diſcourse of Warre; and you ſhall heare / A fearefull Battaile rendred you in Muſique. / Turne him to any Cauſe of Pollicy, / The Gordian Knot of it he will vnlooſe, / Familiar as his Garter: […]

   1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], pages 69–70

7. countableobsoleteuncountableA state; a polity.First known use 14th–16th c.
8. countableobsoleteuncountableA set political system; civil administration.First known use 15th–19th c.
9. countableobsoleteuncountableA trick; a stratagem.First known use 15th–19th c.

   Tis pollicie and ſtratageme muſt doo / That you affect, and ſo muſt you reſolue, / That vvhat you cannot as you vvould atchiue, / You muſt perforce accompliſh as you may: […]

   c. 1588–1593 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Most Lamentable Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus: […] (First Quarto), London: […] Iohn Danter, and are to be sold by Edward White & Thomas Millington, […], published 1594, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], signature [C4], verso

10. countableobsoleteuncountableMotive; object; inducement.

    I pray you (said he) honest men, what such right have you in me, as not to suffer me to doe with my self what I list? and what pollicie have you to bestow a benefite where it is counted an injury?

    The New Arcadia

    c. 1580 (date written), 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

present singular third person policies · participle present policying · participle past policied · past policied

1. transitiveTo regulate by laws; to reduce to order.

   Policying of cities.

   1605, Francis Bacon, “(please specify |book=1 or 2)”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC

plural policies

1. lawA contract of insurance.
2. lawA document containing or certifying this contract.

   Your insurance policy covers fire and theft only.

3. obsoleteAn illegal daily lottery in late nineteenth and early twentieth century USA on numbers drawn from a lottery wheel (no plural)
4. A number pool lottery