A Topical Dictionary: Search for expedient

Dictionary Results For "expedient" [?]/[OPML]

Ads By Google

Wiktionary Articles [RSS] - [GNU, www.Wiktionary.org]

English

Pronunciation

An audio transcript can be found at en-us-expedient.ogg

Etymology

expediens (stem expedient-), present participle of expedire “to expedite.”

Adjective

simple|Simple, easy, or quick; convenient.
:Most people, faced with a decision, will choose the most expedient option.

Translations

Italian: opportuno

Noun

An easy or simple method; a shortcut.
:They increased profits by the simple expedient of selling a smaller bottle for the same price.

Translations

Italian: espediente

et:expedient fr:expedient io:expedient id:expedient it:expedient hu:expedient ta:expedient te:expedient vi:expedient zh:expedient

GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English Expedient \Ex*pe"di*ent\a. [L. expediens, -entis, p. pr. of
expedire to be expedient, release, extricate: cf. F.
exp['e]dient. See Expedite.]
1. Hastening or forward; hence, tending to further or promote
a proposed object; fit or proper under the circumstances;
conducive to self-interest; desirable; advisable;
advantageous; -- sometimes contradistinguished from
right or principled.
[1913 Webster]

It is expedient for you that I go away. --John xvi.
7.
[1913 Webster]

Nothing but the right can ever be expedient, since
that can never be true expediency which would
sacrifice a greater good to a less. --Whately.
[1913 Webster]

2. Quick; expeditious. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]

His marches are expedient to this town. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English Expedient \Ex*pe"di*ent\, n.
1. That which serves to promote or advance; suitable means to
accomplish an end.
[1913 Webster]

What sure expedient than shall Juno find,
To calm her fears and ease her boding mind?
--Philips.
[1913 Webster]

2. Means devised in an exigency; shift.

Syn: Shift; contrivance; resource; substitute.
[1913 Webster]

WordNet expedient
adj 1: serving to promote your interest; "was merciful only when
mercy was expedient" [ant: inexpedient]
2: appropriate to a purpose; practical; "in the circumstances
it was expedient to express loyalty"
n : a means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical
one

Moby Dictionary
action , ad hoc measure , advantageous , advisable , agency , answer ,
applicable , appropriate , apropos , art , artful dodge , artifice ,
auspicious , banausic , becoming , befitting ,
behind-the-scenes influence , beneficial , benevolent , blind , bon ,
bonny , braw , bueno , capital , chicanery , cogent , commendable ,
commodious , congruous , conspiracy , contrivance , convenient ,
correct , countermove , coup , course of action , craft , cute trick ,
deceit , decent , demarche , dernier ressort , design , desirable ,
device , devices , dodge , effective , effort , elegant , employable ,
estimable , excellent , expediency , expedients , fair , fakement ,
famous , favorable , feasible , feint , felicitous , fetch , fine , fit ,
fitten , fitting , fortunate , fructuous , functional , gambit , game ,
gimmick , going between , good , good for , goodly , grand , grift ,
happy , healthy , helpful , hope , improvisation , influence ,
instrument , instrumentality , intermediation , intrigue , judicious ,
jugglery , jury-rig , jury-rigged expedient , kind , knavery ,
last expedient , last resort , last shift , laudable , likely ,
little game , lucky , machination , machinery , makeshift , maneuver ,
maneuvering , maneuvers , manipulation , means , measure , mechanism ,
mediation , medium , meet , move , nice , noble , of general utility ,
of help , of service , of use , opportune , pertinent , pis aller ,
pleasant , plot , ploy , politic , political influence , possible ,
practicable , practical , pragmatic , pragmatical , profitable , proper ,
propitious , providential , prudent , racket , recommendable ,
recommended , recourse , red herring , refuge , regal , resort ,
resource , right , ripe , royal , ruse , scheme , seasonable , seemly ,
service , serviceable , shake-up , shift , skillful , sleight , solution ,
sortable , sound , splendid , step , stopgap , stratagem , strategy ,
stroke , stroke of policy , substitute , subterfuge , suitable , tactic ,
tactical , tactical maneuvers , tactics , temporary expedient , timely ,
to be desired , trick , trickery , trump , useful , utilitarian , valid ,
very good , virtuous , well-timed , wile , wily device , wire-pulling ,
wise , working hypothesis , working proposition , worthwhile