expedient

名词 n. 形容词 adj.

英文释义

名词 n.
  1. A method or means for achieving a particular result, especially when direct or efficient; a resource.
    — To secure such a market, there is no other expedient, than to promote manufacturing establishments.
形容词 adj.
  1. Suitable to effect some desired end or the purpose intended.
    — Most people, faced with a decision, will choose the most expedient option.
  2. Affording short-term benefit, often at the expense of the long-term.
    — [T]he judges were unanimously of opinion that [...] by the common law of England, no man, not authorised by the crown, had a right to publish political news. While the Whig party was still formidable, the government thought it expedient occasionally to connive at the violation of this rule.
  3. Governed by self-interest, often short-term self-interest.
    — But the Expedient, in the sense in which it is opposed to the Right, generally means that which is expedient for the particular interest of the agent himself; as when a minister sacrifices the interests of his country to keep himself in place.
  4. Expeditious, quick, rapid. obsolete
    — the adverse winds / Whose leisure I have stay'd, have given him time / To land his legions all as soon as I; / His marches are expedient to this town / His forces strong, his soldiers confident.

词形变化

more expedient comparative most expedient superlative expedients plural

词源

词源 1
From Middle English expedient, from Old French expedient, from Latin expediens (stem expedient-), present participle of expedire (“to bring forward, to dispatch, to expedite; impers. to be profitable, serviceable, advantageous, expedient”), from ex (“out”) + pēs (“foot, hoof”).
词源 2
From Middle English expedient, from Old French expedient, from Latin expediens (stem expedient-), present participle of expedire (“to bring forward, to dispatch, to expedite; impers. to be profitable, serviceable, advantageous, expedient”), from ex (“out”) + pēs (“foot, hoof”).
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