political English · revision 2515

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1529|origins=grc πόλις}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /pəˈlɪt.ɪ.kᵊl/, US /pəˈlɪt̬.ɪ.kᵊl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la|polīticus|t=of citizens or the state]] with the suffix [[-al]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) the source of [[politic]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from Greek [[m|grc|πολιτικός|tr=politikós]], from [[m|grc|πολίτης|tr=polítēs|t=citizen]], from [[m|grc|πόλις|tr=pólis|t=city]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) It is related to [[police]], [[policy]] and [[politics]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of the state or its government: 1529 according to Merriam-Webster and the HTOED,^(MWU 2024)^(HTOED) or the 1550s according to Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From 1577 to 1817 ''political'' could also mean “shrewd, crafty”, like ''politic''.^(HTOED) The sense “taking sides in party politics”, usually disapproving, is from 1749.^(Etymonline) ''Political science'' was first used by Hume in 1779, and ''political prisoner'' is from 1860.^(Etymonline) ''Political animal'' translates Aristotle's phrase in the ''Politics'' for man as a creature made to live in a city-state.^(Etymonline) The Word Origins dictionary notes that ''political correctness'' as a concept arose in the United States in the 1980s, though the expression is older.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1529 – of the state.^(MWU 2024)^(HTOED)

+ * 1577–1817 – shrewd, crafty.^(HTOED)

+ * 1749 – of party politics.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1779 – ''political science'' (Hume).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1860 – ''political prisoner''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to the government or affairs of a state.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Relating to [[politics]], political parties or politicians.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # Having an organized policy or structure of government.^(AHD)

+ # Concerned with power and status within an organization.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[politicalization]]

+ * [[politically]]

+ * [[antipolitical]]

+ * [[apolitical]]

+ * [[politicalize]]

+ * [[prepolitical]]

+ * [[pseudopolitical]]

+ * [[semipolitical]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[politician]]

+ * [[politicize]]

+ * [[politick]]

+ * [[politico]]

+ * [[politic]]

+ * [[politics]]

+ * [[police]]

+ * [[policy]]

+ * [[polity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}