politic

adj

1. (archaic)Of or relating to polity, or civil government; political.

   “the body politic”

   “[H]e with his people made all but one politic body whereof himself was the head”

2. (archaic)Relating to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong.

   “a politic treaty”

   “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

   “I have been politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy”

4. Shrewd, prudent and expedient; showing policy.

   “But as he headed for the front of the line one of his minders whispered that it might be politic to go to the back.”

   “But campaigners in Florida accused him of turning a blind eye to the real issues with his "politic" appearance before the commission.”

   “What a politician likes to do for fun (or judges it politic to pretend he does) is seen as a clue to their personality, or even their politics.”

5. Discreet and diplomatic.

   “A unanimous exclamation called upon Evelyn himself to speak; and, after a minute's politic pause, he went on to state his plan.”

   “Deferential, glad to be of use, / Politic, cautious, and meticulous; […]”

6. Artful, crafty or cunning.

noun

1. (archaic)A politician.

   “to speake truly of politikes & Statesmen”

   “Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern; / Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars.”

   “And therefore our politic Asclepius may be supposed to have exhibited the power of his art only to persons who... had a definite ailment.”

2. A politics; a set of political beliefs.

   “While the stories and lives on the screen are alternately moving and funny, an unspoken question arises: does similar experience always lead to a coherent politic?”

verb

1. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative spelling of politick.

   “That why you turned the Kanuyaq Land Trust into the IRS for using donations to politic instead of to buy land?”

   “Residents of New York, Illinois and now New Hampshire have watched as their governors waffled, politicked and, in the case of Illinois, possibly broke the law carrying out their duties to appoint a new senator.”

   “His brother [Anthony], he politicked him so well, that even his [Jason's] attitude, all the scouts got away from [forgot about] his [bad] attitude because he was a good player.”

   “He made errors, and they should have reversed him, but he politicked the thing through.”