policy English · revision 3507

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpɒl.ə.si/, US /ˈpɑː.lə.si/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|course of action}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1385 (Usk)|origins=grc πολιτεία}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The course of action is [[inh|enm|policie|t=the art or practice of government]], [[bor|fro|policie|t=political organization, civil administration]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-lat|politia|t=the state, civil administration]], from [[la|polītīa]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[grc|πολιτεία|tr=politeía|t=citizenship, government, administration]], from [[m|grc|πολίτης|tr=polítēs|t=citizen]], from [[m|grc|πόλις|tr=pólis|t=city, state]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) The same Latin word gave [[police]], and [[polity]] took over its oldest sense.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) The SOED attributes the sense “cunning, prudence” partly to association with Latin [[m|la|polītus|t=polished, refined]].^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The art or practice of government: about 1385, in Usk's ''Testament of Love'',^(Barnhart 1988) and an organized system of government in 1387–8.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English it meant also an organized state or commonwealth, from 1390,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) a sense now taken by ''polity''.^(Etymonline) Political shrewdness and prudence in public affairs is from about 1420,^(OED 1989) and prudent or cunning conduct generally from about 1430, with ''a policy'' meaning “a trick, stratagem” from 1406.^(OED 1989) The main modern sense, a course of action adopted by a government, party or person, is from about 1430,^(OED 1989) or the early 15th century.^(Etymonline) In Scotland, ''policy'' also meant the grounds of a country house.^(Wright 1898)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1385 – the art of government (Usk).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1390 – an organized state (Chaucer).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1406 – a stratagem.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1420 – political sagacity.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1430 – a course of action.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A plan or course of action adopted by a government, party, business or person.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A guiding principle or procedure considered [[expedient]].^(AHD)

+ # Prudence or shrewdness in practical matters.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(Scotland)'' The grounds around a country house.^(Wright 1898)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ {{homograph|2|insurance contract}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1523|origins=grc ἀπόδειξις}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The contract is from earlier ''police'', [[bor|frm|police|t=contract, bill of lading]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[it|polizza|t=written evidence of a transaction, note, ticket]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from [[roa-oit|poliza]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) an alteration of [[la-med|apodissa]] or [[m|la-med|apodixa|t=receipt]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[grc|ἀπόδειξις|tr=apódeixis|t=proof, demonstration]], from [[m|grc|ἀποδείκνυμι|tr=apodeíknumi|t=to show, demonstrate]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from [[m|grc|ἀπό|tr=apó|t=off, from]] and [[m|grc|δείκνυμι|tr=deíknumi|t=to show]], related to Latin [[m|la|dīcere|t=to say]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) The SOED points to Provençal [[m|pro|polissa]] as an intermediate form.^(SOED 2002) The ending changed under the influence of [[policy#1]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A document containing a contract of insurance: 1523 in the OED,^(OED 1989) and 1565 in Barnhart and Merriam-Webster as ''police of assurance''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A conditional promissory note depending on a wager is from 1709–10.^(OED 1989) In the United States ''policy'' was a form of gambling on numbers drawn by lottery from 1830,^(OED 1989) the [[numbers game]].^(AHD) ''Policy-holder'' and similar compounds are recorded from the 19th and 20th centuries.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1523 – an insurance contract.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1565 – ''police of assurance''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1709–10 – a promissory note on a wager.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1830 – the numbers game.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A written contract of [[insurance]]; the document containing it.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(US)'' A [[numbers game]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[police]]

+ * [[polity]]

+ * [[politics]]

+ * [[political]]

+ * [[metropolis]]

+ * [[apodictic]]

+ * [[diction]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}