polity

Noun
Synonyms: civil order

WordNet 3.0

Noun (3)

  1. the form of government of a social organizationSynonyms: civil order
  2. a politically organized unit
  3. shrewd or crafty management of public affairs“we was innocent of stratagems and polity”
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Polity \Pol"i*ty\, n.; pl. Polities. [L. politia, Gr. ?: cf. F. politie. See 1st Policy, Police.]

1.The form or constitution of the civil government of a nation or state; the framework or organization by which the various departments of government are combined into a systematic whole. --Blackstone. Hooker. [1913 Webster]

2.Hence: The form or constitution by which any institution is organized; the recognized principles which lie at the foundation of any human institution. [1913 Webster]

Nor is possible that any form of polity, much less polity ecclesiastical, should be good, unless God himself be author of it.— Hooker.[1913 Webster]

3.Policy; art; management. [Obs.] --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Policy.

Usage: Polity, Policy. These two words were originally the same. Polity is now confined to the structure of a government; as, civil or ecclesiastical polity; while policy is applied to the scheme of management of public affairs with reference to some aim or result; as, foreign or domestic policy. Policy has the further sense of skillful or cunning management. [1913 Webster]

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