Polish Pol"ish noun 1. A smooth, glossy surface, usually produced by friction; a gloss or luster.

Another prism of clearer glass and better polish .

Sir I. Newton.

2. Anything used to produce a gloss.

3. Fig.: Refinement; elegance of manners.

This Roman polish and this smooth behavior.

Addison.

Polishable Pol"ishˇaˇble adjective Capable of being polished.

Polished Pol"ished adjective Made smooth and glossy, as by friction; hence, highly finished; refined; polite; as, polished plate; polished manners; polished verse.

Polishedness Pol"ishedˇness noun The quality of being polished.

Polisher Pol"ishˇer noun One who, or that which, polishes; also, that which is used in polishing. Addison.

Polishing Pol"ishˇing adjective & noun from Polish .

Polishing iron , an iron burnisher; esp., a small smoothing iron used in laundries. -- Polishing slate . (a) A gray or yellow slate, found in Bohemia and Auvergne, and used for polishing glass, marble, and metals . (b) A kind of hone or whetstone; hone slate. -- Polishing snake , a tool used in cleaning lithographic stones. -- Polishing wheel , a wheel or disk coated with, or composed of, abrading material, for polishing a surface.

Polishment Pol"ishˇment noun The act of polishing, or the state of being polished. [ R.]

Polissoir Po`lis`soir" noun [ French] 1. A polishing or grinding implement or instrument.

2. (Glass Making) A tool consisting of a flat wooden block with a long iron handle, used for flattening out split cylinders of blown glass.

Polite Poˇlite" adjective [ Compar. Politer ; superl. Politest .] [ Latin politus , past participle of polire to polish: confer French poli . See Polish , v. ] 1. Smooth; polished. [ Obsolete]

Rays of light falling on a polite surface.

Sir I. Newton.

2. Smooth and refined in behavior or manners; well bred; courteous; complaisant; obliging; civil.

He marries, bows at court, and grows polite .

Pope.

3. Characterized by refinement, or a high degree of finish; as, polite literature. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Polished; refined; well bred; courteous; affable; urbane; civil; courtly; elegant; genteel.

Polite Poˇlite" transitive verb To polish; to refine; to render polite. [ Obsolete] Ray.

Politely Poˇlite"ly adverb 1. In a polished manner; so as to be smooth or glossy. [ Obsolete] Milton.

2. In a polite manner; with politeness.

Politeness Poˇlite"ness noun 1. High finish; smoothness; burnished elegance. [ R.] Evelyn.

2. The quality or state of being polite; refinement of manners; urbanity; courteous behavior; complaisance; obliging attentions.

Syn. -- Courtesy; good breeding; refinement; urbanity; courteousness; affability; complaisance; civility; gentility; courtliness. -- Politeness , Courtesy . Politeness denotes that ease and gracefulness of manners which first sprung up in cities, connected with a desire to please others by anticipating their wants and wishes, and studiously avoiding whatever might give them pain. Courtesy is, etymologically, the politeness of courts. It displays itself in the address and manners; it is shown more especially in receiving and entertaining others, and is a union of dignified complaisance and kindness.

Politesse Pol`iˇtesse" noun [ French] Politeness.

Politic Pol"iˇtic adjective [ Latin politicus political, Greek ... belonging to the citizens or to the state, from ... citizen: confer French politique . See Police , and confer ePolitical .] 1. Of or pertaining to polity, or civil government; political; as, the body politic . See under Body .

He with his people made all but one politic body.

Sir P. Sidney.

2. Pertaining to, or promoting, a policy, especially a national policy; well-devised; adapted to its end, whether right or wrong; -- said of things; as, a politic treaty. "Enrich'd with politic grave counsel." Shak.

3. Sagacious in promoting a policy; ingenious in devising and advancing a system of management; devoted to a scheme or system rather than to a principle; hence, in a good sense, wise; prudent; sagacious; and in a bad sense, artful; unscrupulous; cunning; -- said of persons.

Politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy.

Shak.

Syn. -- Wise; prudent; sagacious; discreet; provident; wary; artful; cunning.

Politic Pol`iˇtic noun A politician. [ Archaic] Bacon.

Swiftly the politic goes; is it dark? he borrows a lantern;
Slowly the statesman and sure, guiding his feet by the stars.

Lowell.

Political Poˇlit"iˇcal adjective 1. Having, or conforming to, a settled system of administration. [ R.] "A political government." Evelyn.

2. Of or pertaining to public policy, or to politics; relating to affairs of state or administration; as, a political writer. "The political state of Europe." Paley.

3. Of or pertaining to a party, or to parties, in the state; as, his political relations were with the Whigs.

4. Politic; wise; also, artful. [ Obsolete] Sterne.

Political economy , that branch of political science or philosophy which treats of the sources, and methods of production and preservation, of the material wealth and prosperity of nations.

Politicalism Poˇlit"iˇcalˇism noun Zeal or party spirit in politics.

Politically Poˇlit"iˇcalˇly adverb 1. In a political manner.

2. Politicly; artfully. [ Obsolete] Knolles.

Politicaster Poˇlit"iˇcas`ter noun [ Confer Italian politicastro .] A petty politician; a pretender in politics. Milton.

Politician Pol`iˇti"cian noun [ Confer French politicien .]

1. One versed or experienced in the science of government; one devoted to politics; a statesman.

While empiric politicians use deceit.

Dryden.

2. One primarily devoted to his own advancement in public office, or to the success of a political party; -- used in a depreciatory sense; one addicted or attached to politics as managed by parties (see Politics , 2); a schemer; an intriguer; as, a mere politician .

Like a scurvy politician , seem
To see the things thou dost not.

Shak.

The politician . . . ready to do anything that he apprehends for his advantage.

South.

Politician Pol`iˇti"cian adjective Cunning; using artifice; politic; artful. "Ill-meaning politician lords." Milton.

Politicist Poˇlit"iˇcist noun A political writer. [ R.]

Politicly Pol"iˇticˇly adverb In a politic manner; sagaciously; shrewdly; artfully. Pope.

Politics Pol"iˇtics noun [ Confer French politique , Greek ... (sc....). See Politic .] 1. The science of government; that part of ethics which has to do with the regulation and government of a nation or state, the preservation of its safety, peace, and prosperity, the defense of its existence and rights against foreign control or conquest, the augmentation of its strength and resources, and the protection of its citizens in their rights, with the preservation and improvement of their morals.

2. The management of a political party; the conduct and contests of parties with reference to political measures or the administration of public affairs; the advancement of candidates to office; in a bad sense, artful or dishonest management to secure the success of political candidates or parties; political trickery.

When we say that two men are talking politics , we often mean that they are wrangling about some mere party question.

F. W. Robertson.

Politize Pol"iˇtize intransitive verb To play the politician; to dispute as politicians do. [ Obsolete] Milton.

Politure Pol"iˇture noun [ Latin politura , from polire to polish. See Polish , v. ] Polish; gloss. [ Obsolete] Donne .

Polity Pol"iˇty noun ; plural Polities . [ Latin politia , Greek ...: confer French politie . See 1st Policy , Police .] 1. The form or constitution of the civil government of a nation or state; the framework or organization by which the various departments of government are combined into a systematic whole. Blackstone. Hooker.

2. Hence: The form or constitution by which any institution is organized; the recognized principles which lie at the foundation of any human institution.

Nor is possible that any form of polity , much less polity ecclesiastical, should be good, unless God himself be author of it.

Hooker.

3. Policy; art; management. [ Obsolete] B. Jonson.

Syn. -- Policy. -- Polity , Policy . These two words were originally the same. Polity is now confined to the structure of a government; as, civil or ecclesiastical polity ; while policy is applied to the scheme of management of public affairs with reference to some aim or result; as, foreign or domestic policy . Policy has the further sense of skillful or cunning management.

Politzerization Poˇlitz`erˇiˇza"tion noun (Medicine) The act of inflating the middle ear by blowing air up the nose during the act of swallowing; -- so called from Prof. Politzer of Vienna, who first practiced it.

Polive Pol"ive noun A pulley. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Polka Pol"ka noun [ Pol. Polka a Polish woman: confer F. & German polka .] 1. A dance of Polish origin, but now common everywhere. It is performed by two persons in common time.

2. (Mus.) A lively Bohemian or Polish dance tune in 2-4 measure, with the third quaver accented.

Polka jacket , a kind of knit jacket worn by women.

Poll Poll noun [ From Polly , The proper name.] A parrot; -- familiarly so called.

Poll Poll noun [ Greek ... the many, the rabble.] One who does not try for honors, but is content to take a degree merely; a passman. [ Cambridge Univ., Eng.]

Poll Poll noun [ Akin to LG. polle the head, the crest of a bird, the top of a tree, OD. pol , polle , Danish puld the crown of a hat.] 1. The head; the back part of the head. "All flaxen was his poll ." Shak.

2. A number or aggregate of heads; a list or register of heads or individuals.

We are the greater poll , and in true fear
They gave us our demands.

Shak.

The muster file, rotten and sound, upon my life, amounts not to fifteen thousand poll .

Shak.

3. Specifically, the register of the names of electors who may vote in an election.

4. The casting or recording of the votes of registered electors; as, the close of the poll .

All soldiers quartered in place are to remove . . . and not to return till one day after the poll is ended.

Blackstone.

5. plural The place where the votes are cast or recorded; as, to go to the polls .

6. The broad end of a hammer; the but of an ax.

7. (Zoology) The European chub. See Pollard , 3 (a) .

Poll book , a register of persons entitled to vote at an election. -- Poll evil (Far.) , an inflammatory swelling or abscess on a horse's head, confined beneath the great ligament of the neck. -- Poll pick (Mining) , a pole having a heavy spike on the end, forming a kind of crowbar. -- Poll tax , a tax levied by the head, or poll; a capitation tax.

Poll Poll transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Polled ; present participle & verbal noun Polling .] 1. To remove the poll or head of; hence, to remove the top or end of; to clip; to lop; to shear; as, to poll the head; to poll a tree.

When he [ Absalom] pollled his head.

2 Sam. xiv. 26.

His death did so grieve them that they polled themselves; they clipped off their horse and mule's hairs.

Sir T. North.

2. To cut off; to remove by clipping, shearing, etc.; to mow or crop; -- sometimes with off ; as, to poll the hair; to poll wool; to poll grass.

Who, as he polled off his dart's head, so sure he had decreed
That all the counsels of their war he would poll off like it.

Chapman.

3. To extort from; to plunder; to strip. [ Obsolete]

Which polls and pills the poor in piteous wise.

Spenser.

4. To impose a tax upon. [ Obsolete]

5. To pay as one's personal tax.

The man that polled but twelve pence for his head.

Dryden.

6. To enter, as polls or persons, in a list or register; to enroll, esp. for purposes of taxation; to enumerate one by one.

Polling the reformed churches whether they equalize in number those of his three kingdoms.

Milton.

7. To register or deposit, as a vote; to elicit or call forth, as votes or voters; as, he polled a hundred votes more than his opponent.

And poll for points of faith his trusty vote.

Tickell.

8. (Law) To cut or shave smooth or even; to cut in a straight line without indentation; as, a polled deed. See Dee... poll . Burrill.

To poll a jury , to call upon each member of the jury to answer individually as to his concurrence in a verdict which has been rendered.

Poll Poll intransitive verb To vote at an election. Beaconsfield.

Pollack Pol"lack noun [ Confer G. & Dutch pollack , and Gael. pollag a little pool, a sort of fish.] (Zoology) (a) A marine gadoid food fish of Europe ( Pollachius virens ). Called also greenfish , greenling , lait , leet , lob , lythe , and whiting pollack . (b) The American pollock; the coalfish.

Pollage Poll"age noun A head or poll tax; hence, extortion. [ Obsolete] Foxe.

Pollan Pol"lan noun [ Confer Gael. pollag a kind of fish.] (Zoology) A lake whitefish ( Coregonus pollan ), native of Ireland. In appearance it resembles a herring.

Pollard Pol"lard noun [ From Poll the head.] 1. A tree having its top cut off at some height above the ground, that may throw out branches. Pennant.

2. A clipped coin; also, a counterfeit. [ Obsolete] Camden.

3. (Zoology) (a) A fish, the chub. (b) A stag that has cast its antlers. (c) A hornless animal (cow or sheep).

Pollard Pol"lard transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Pollarded ; present participle & verbal noun Pollarding .] To lop the tops of, as trees; to poll; as, to pollard willows. Evelyn.

Pollax Poll"ax` noun A poleax. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Polled Polled adjective Deprived of a poll, or of something belonging to the poll. Specifically: (a) Lopped; -- said of trees having their tops cut off. (b) Cropped; hence, bald; -- said of a person. "The polled bachelor." Beau. & Fl. (c) Having cast the antlers; -- said of a stag. (d) Without horns; as, polled cattle; polled sheep.

Pollen Pol"len noun [ Latin pollen fine flour, fine dust; confer Greek ...] 1. Fine bran or flour. [ Obsolete] Bailey.

2. (Botany) The fecundating dustlike cells of the anthers of flowers. See Flower , and Illust. of Filament .

Pollen grain (Botany) , a particle or call of pollen. -- Pollen mass , a pollinium. Gray. -- Pollen sac , a compartment of an anther containing pollen, -- usually there are four in each anther. -- Pollen tube , a slender tube which issues from the pollen grain on its contact with the stigma, which it penetrates, thus conveying, it is supposed, the fecundating matter of the grain to the ovule.

Pollenarious Pol`lenˇa"riˇous adjective Consisting of meal or pollen.

Pollened Pol"lened adjective Covered with pollen. Tennyson.

Polleniferous Pol`lenˇif"erˇous adjective [ Pollen + -ferous .] (Botany) Producing pollen; polliniferous.

Pollenin Pol"lenˇin noun [ Confer French pollénine .] (Chemistry) A substance found in the pollen of certain plants. [ R.]

Pollenize Pol"lenˇize transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Pollenized ; present participle & verbal noun Pollenizing .] To supply with pollen; to impregnate with pollen.

Poller Poll"er noun [ From Poll ] One who polls; specifically: (a) One who polls or lops trees. (b) One who polls or cuts hair; a barber. [ R.] (c) One who extorts or plunders. [ Obsolete] Baex> . (d) One who registplws votplws, or one who enters his name as a voter.

Pollex Pol"lex noun ; plural Pollices . [ the thumb.] (Anat.) The first, or preaxial, digit of the fore limb, corresponding to the hallux in the hind limb; the thumb. In birds, the pollex is the joint which bears the bastard wing.

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