Pol″i‐cy (?), n.; pl.Policies (#). [L. politia, Gr. �; cf. F. police, Of. police. See Police, n.] 1. Civil polity.
2. The settled method by which the government and affairs of a nation are, or may be, administered; a system of public or official administration, as designed to promote the external or internal prosperity of a state.
3. The method by which any institution is administered; system of management; course.
4. Management or administration based on temporal or material interest, rather than on principles of equity or honor; hence, worldly wisdom; dexterity of management; cunning; stratagem.
5. Prudence or wisdom in the management of public and private affairs; wisdom; sagacity; wit.
The very policy of a hostess, finding his purse so far above his clothes, did detect him. Fuller.
6. Motive; object; inducement.
What policy have you to bestow a benefit where it is counted an injury? Sir P. Sidney.
Syn. — See Polity.