different between politic vs polity

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

Etymology

From Middle French politie, from Latin politia (circa. 1530s C.E.), from Ancient Greek ???????? (politeía, “polity, policy, the state”). Doublet of policy and police.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?p?.l?.t?/
• (US, Canada) IPA^(key): /?p?.l?.ti/

Noun

polity (plural polities)

1. (politics) An organizational structure of the government of a state, church, etc.
2. (political science) A politically organized unit; a state.

   Different nations have different forms of polities, from provinces and states to territories and municipalities.

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• polity in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• polity in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.