politics

politics
politics (n.) 1520s, "science of government," from POLITIC (Cf. politic) (adj.), modeled on Aristotle's ta politika "affairs of state," the name of his book on governing and governments, which was in English mid-15c. as "Polettiques." Also see -ICS (Cf. -ics).
Politicks is the science of good sense, applied to public affairs, and, as those are forever changing, what is wisdom to-day would be folly and perhaps, ruin to-morrow. Politicks is not a science so properly as a business. It cannot have fixed principles, from which a wise man would never swerve, unless the inconstancy of men's view of interest and the capriciousness of the tempers could be fixed. [Fisher Ames (1758-1808)]
Meaning "a person's political allegiances or opinions" is from 1769.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • politics — pol‧it‧ics [ˈpɒltɪks ǁ ˈpɑː ] noun [uncountable] 1. ideas and activities relating to gaining and using power in a country, city etc: • a businessman who is also involved in politics 2. the activities of people who are concerned with gaining… …   Financial and business terms

  • politics —    Politics has been described as ‘who gets what, when, where and how’, ‘the art of the possible’, and in less polite terms as anything to do with people scheming, manipulating or otherwise abusing or seeking power or influence over others. For… …   Encyclopedia of contemporary British culture

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  • politics — noun campaigning, civilis ratio, electioneering, governance, government, matters of state, partisanism, party leadership, party politics, party system, political affairs, political influence, political involvement, political maneuvers, political… …   Law dictionary

  • politics — is treated as a singular noun when it means ‘the art or science or business of government’ (Politics is a popular subject at many universities / one example of how Scottish politics has lost the faith of the people it is meant to serve) and… …   Modern English usage

  • politics — ► PLURAL NOUN (usu. treated as sing. ) 1) the activities associated with governing a country or area, and with the political relations between states. 2) a particular set of political beliefs or principles. 3) activities aimed at gaining power… …   English terms dictionary

  • Politics — Pol i*tics, n. [Cf. F. politique, Gr. ? (sc.?). See {Politic}.] 1. The science of government; that part of ethics which has to do with the regulation and government of a nation or state, the preservation of its safety, peace, and prosperity, the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • politics — [päl′ə tiks] pl.n. [ POLIT(IC) + ICS] [with sing. or pl. v.] 1. the science and art of political government; political science 2. political affairs 3. the conducting of or participation in political affairs, often as a profession 4. political… …   English World dictionary

  • politics — [n] art and science of administration of government affairs of state, backroom*, campaigning, civics, domestic affairs, electioneering, foreign affairs, government, government policy, hat in the ring*, internal affairs, jungle*, legislature,… …   New thesaurus

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