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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Politic \Pol`i*tic\, n.
A politician. [Archaic] --Bacon.
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Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a
lantern;
Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the
stars. --Lowell.
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Politic \Pol"i*tic\, a. [L. politicus political, Gr. ? belonging
to the citizens or to the state, fr.? citizen: cf. F.
politique. See {Police}, and cf. {ePolitical}.]
1. Of or pertaining to polity, or civil government;
political; as, the body politic. See under {Body}.
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He with his people made all but one politic body.
--Sir P.
Sidney.
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2. Pertaining to, or promoting, a policy, especially a
national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether
right or wrong; -- said of things; as, a politic treaty.
"Enrich'd with politic grave counsel." --Shak.
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3. 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; and in a bad sense, artful;
unscrupulous; cunning; -- said of persons.
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Politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy.
--Shak.
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Syn: Wise; prudent; sagacious; discreet; provident; wary;
artful; cunning.
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