different between politic vs mum

English

Alternative forms

• politick (obsolete)

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p?l?t?k/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?p?l?t?k/

Adjective

politic (comparative more politic, superlative most politic)

1. (archaic) Of or relating to polity, or civil government; political.
2. (archaic, of things) Relating to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong.
   • c. 1592, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Richard the Third, 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. 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.

Antonyms

• impolitic

Related terms

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

Noun

politic (plural politics)

1. (archaic) A politician.

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

   • 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

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

1. To engage in political activity; politick.

Interlingua

Adjective

politic (comparative plus politic, superlative le plus politic)

1. political

Ladin

Adjective

politic m pl

1. plural of politich

Occitan

Etymology

From Latin pol?ticus, from Ancient Greek ????????? (politikós).

Adjective

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

1. political

Derived terms

• politizar

English

Alternative forms

• mam
• mom, Mom (US)
• Mum

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /m?m/
• Rhymes: -?m

Etymology 1

Alternative form of mam, or an abbreviation of mummy. Compare mom, mama.

Noun

mum (plural mums)

1. (Britain, Australia, New England, Canada, informal) Mother.
   • 1993, Hilda Hollingsworth, Places of Greater Safety, Zenobia Press edition, page 278,

     'Ooh Mum, Auntie don?t allow smokin’ - Pat?s eyes were round with awe as Mum struck a match.

   • 2004, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Patty Hansen, Irene Dunlap, Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul 2, page 336,

     Her mum says that she is deaf and only partially sighted, so I need to go and stand in front of her, so she can see the gift.

   • 2006, Kathryn Lasky, Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Book 11: To Be a King, page 88,

     “Mum! Mum!” he shouted out. The laughter stopped. Two bright, sparkling yellow eyes peeped from the hollow. Atop her head were the fluffy ear tufts that his mum was so proud of because they were fuller and lovelier than those of most Great Horned Owls. It was indeed his mum!

   • 2011, Chyna, FAM: Rolling in a London Girl Gang, unnumbered page,

     He?s looking at my mum, at her swollen eyes, busted nose and bloodied lips. She?s mashed up something chronic, and the man who did this to her is my dad.

2. (dated, colloquial) ma'am; a term of respect for an older woman.
   • 1840, Charles Dickens, Master Humphrey's Clock, Volume 1, 1851, page 130,

     “Wy, mum,” said Mr. Weller, “I don?t think you?ll see a many sich, and that?s the truth. But if my son Samivel vould give me my vay, mum, and dis-pense with his—might I wenter to say the vurd?”

     “What word Mr Weller?” said the housekeeper, blushing slightly.

     “Petticuts, mum,” returned that gentleman, laying his had upon the garments of his grandson. “If my son Samivel vould only dis-pense vith these here, you?d see sich a alteration in his appearance, as the imagination can?t depicter!”

   • 1885, Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 2011, unnumbered page,

     Then she took off the hank and looked me straight in the face, and very pleasant, and says:

     “Come, now, what?s your real name?

     “Wh — what, mum?”

     “What?s your real name? Is it Bill, or Tom, or Bob? — Or what is it?”

Usage notes

Mum is only capitalized when used as a proper noun:

• I don't think Mum will like you.
• I don't think my mum will like you.
• In New England, the word may still be spelt "mom", but it will have the pronunciation of "mum".

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:mother

Translations

Etymology 2

Abbreviation of chrysanthemum.

Noun

mum (plural mums)

1. A chrysanthemum.

Etymology 3

From Middle English mum or mom (“silent”), reminiscent of the sound made when gagged or with a hand over one's mouth. Perhaps related to dated German Mumme (“mask”).

Alternative forms

• (verb): mumm (archaic)

Adjective

mum (not comparable)

1. (colloquial) Silent.
2. (colloquial) Secret.

Derived terms

• keep mum
• mum's the word

Interjection

mum!

1. stop speaking!, stop talking!, hush!

Verb

mum (third-person singular simple present mums, present participle mumming, simple past and past participle mummed)

1. To act in a pantomime or dumb show.

Noun

mum (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) silence

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

Etymology 4

German Mumme, named after Christian Mumme, who first brewed it in 1492.

Noun

mum (uncountable)

1. A type of strong beer, originally made in Brunswick, Germany.

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

Anagrams

• MMU, umm

Abinomn

Noun

mum

1. eeltail catfish

Forak

Noun

mum

1. breast

Further reading

• John Carter, Katie Carter, John Grummitt, Bonnie MacKenzie, Janell Masters, A Sociolinguistic Survey of the Mur Village Vernaculars (2012)

Turkish

Etymology

From Persian ???? (mum).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mum/

Noun

mum (definite accusative mumu, plural mumlar)

1. candle

Declension

Derived terms

• mumluk

Zazaki

Noun

mum

1. candle