expedient : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: expedient	by the DICT Development Group
3 results for expedient
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
expedient adj serving to promote your interest; "was merciful only when mercy was expedient" Antonym(s): inexpedient 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
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Expedient \Expe"dient\a. [L. expediens, -entis, p. pr. of expedire to be expedient, release, extricate: cf. F. exp[82]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 Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Expedient \Expe"dient\, 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.