politic

comparative more politic · superlative most politic · alternative obsolete politick

1. archaicOf or relating to polity, or civil government; political.

   the body politic

   1 more example

   [H]e with his people made all but one politic body whereof himself was the head

   The New Arcadia

   a. 1587, 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

2. archaicRelating to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong.

   a politic treaty

   1 more example

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

   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]

3. archaicSagacious 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

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

   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]

4. Shrewd, prudent and expedient; showing policy.

   But as he headed for the front of the line one of his minders whispered that it might be politic to go to the back.

   1999 February 28, Chris McGreal, “Nigerians give two cheers for flawed election”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 02 May 2024

   2 more examples

   But campaigners in Florida accused him of turning a blind eye to the real issues with his "politic" appearance before the commission.

   2001 January 12, Jane Martinson, “Jeb Bush grilled on voting irregularities”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 17 Jul 2017

   What a politician likes to do for fun (or judges it politic to pretend he does) is seen as a clue to their personality, or even their politics.

   2010 April 20, Mark Lawson, “Politicians' pop-culture love-in”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 02 May 2024

5. Discreet and diplomatic.

   Deferential, glad to be of use, / Politic, cautious, and meticulous; […]

   1915 June, T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, in Prufrock and Other Observations, London: The Egoist […], published 1917, →OCLC, page 15

   1 more example

   A unanimous exclamation called upon Evelyn himself to speak; and, after a minute's politic pause, he went on to state his plan.

   1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter IV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 25

6. Artful, crafty or cunning.

plural politics · alternative obsolete politick

1. archaicA politician.

   to speake truly of politikes & Statesmen

   1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC

   2 more examples

   Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern; / Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars.

   1848, James Russell Lowell, The Complete Poetical Works of James Russell Lowell, Epigrams, 3

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

   1871, Benjamin Jowett, chapter III, in Plato: The Republic

2. A politics; a set of political beliefs.

   While the stories and lives on the screen are alternately moving and funny, an unspoken question arises: does similar experience always lead to a coherent politic?

   1978 April 29, Michael Bronski, “Notes on a Necessary Gay Film”, in Gay Community News, page 11

present singular third person politics · participle present politicking · participle past politicked · past politicked · alternative obsolete politick

1. alternativeAlternative spelling of politick.

   He made errors, and they should have reversed him, but he politicked the thing through.

   2017, John Hayman, Bitter Harvest: Richmond Flowers and the Civil Rights Revolution, →ISBN

   3 more examples

   That why you turned the Kanuyaq Land Trust into the IRS for using donations to politic instead of to buy land?

   2002, Dana Stabenow, A Fine and Bitter Snow, →ISBN, page 206

   Residents of New York, Illinois and now New Hampshire have watched as their governors waffled, politicked and, in the case of Illinois, possibly broke the law carrying out their duties to appoint a new senator.

   2009 February 4, “How to Fill a Senate Seat”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2022

   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.

   2009, Scott N. Brooks, Black Men Can't Shoot, →ISBN, page 169