politic

Adjective

WordNet 3.0

Adjective (2)

marked by artful prudence, expedience, and shrewdness“it is neither polite nor politic to get into other people's quarrels”“a politic decision”“a politic manager”“a politic old scoundrel”“a shrewd and politic reply”
smoothly agreeable and courteous with a degree of sophistication“he was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage”“the manager pacified the customer with a smooth apology for the error”Synonyms: smooth suave bland

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Politic \Pol`i*tic\, n. A politician. [Archaic] --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern; Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars. --Lowell. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

He with his people made all but one politic body.— Sir P. Sidney.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

Syn: Wise; prudent; sagacious; discreet; provident; wary; artful; cunning. [1913 Webster]