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more about expedient
expedient |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Expedient \Ex*pe"di*ent\, n. 1. That which serves to promote or advance; suitable means to accomplish an end What sure expedient than shall Juno find To calm her fears and ease her boding mind? --Philips. 2. Means devised in an exigency; shift. Syn: Shift; contrivance; resource; substitute. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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 It is expedient for you that I go away --John xvi. 7. 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. 2. Quick; expeditious. [Obs.] His marches are expedient to this town. --Shak. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: 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
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