politics

Multiple Entries:
  politics    politic  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
politics/ˈpɒlətɪks/

▶plural noun [usu. treated as sing.]

• 1 the activities associated with the governance of a country or area.

  ■ a particular set of political beliefs or principles.

  ■ the principles relating to or inherent in a sphere or activity, especially when concerned with power and status: the politics of gender.

• 2 activities aimed at improving someone's status within an organization: office politics.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
politic/ˈpɒlətɪk/

▶adjective (of an action) seeming sensible and judicious in the circumstances.

■ (also politick) archaic (of a person) prudent and sagacious.

▶verb (politics, politicking, politicked) (often as noun politicking) often derogatory engage in political activity.

– origin ME: from OFr. politique ‘political’, via L. from Gk politikos, from politēs ‘citizen’, from polis ‘city’.