Pol"i*ty (?), n.; pl.
Polities (#). [L. politia, Gr. &?;: cf. F.
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. [Obs.]
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.
