Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Versed in affairs; skilled in business; engaged in business pursuits.
- Active; diligent; busy.
- Pertaining to business or to material interests; hence, material; commonplace.
- Practical; authoritative.
- Unduly busy over the affairs of others; meddlesome; interfering; officious.
- Characterized by officiousness; performed or delivered by an officious person; intrusive.
- Busy over trifles; self-important; busy.
- noun A professional opinion or decision.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective law That relates to affairs of
state - adjective
pragmatic
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective of or concerning the theory of pragmatism
- adjective concerned with practical matters
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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The practical law based on the motive of happiness I term a pragmatical law (or prudential rule); but that law, assuming such to exist, which has no other motive than the worthiness of being happy, I term a moral or ethical law.
The Critique of Pure Reason Immanuel Kant 1764
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The Hunsdens were always unrivalled at tracking a rascal; a downright, dishonourable villain is their natural prey — they could not keep off him wherever they met him; you used the word pragmatical just now — that word is the property of our family; it has been applied to us from generation to generation; we have fine noses for abuses; we scent a scoundrel a mile off; we are reformers born, radical reformers; and it was impossible for me to live in the same town with Crimsworth, to come into weekly contact with him, to witness some of his conduct to you (for whom personally I care nothing; I only consider the brutal injustice with which he violated your natural claim to equality) — I say it was impossible for me to be thus situated and not feel the angel or the demon of my race at work within me.
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On the next morning, which was cold and drizzly, a "pragmatical" drummer went out from the nearer trench, beating his drum for a parley, lest his person should be dismissed without ceremony to the hungry kites.
Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2) John Roby 1821
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Time will tell if today's crisis will catalyze a pragmatical yet cautious Politburo to accept that order is not incompatible with an independent judiciary and enforceable checks and balances.
Tom Doctoroff: Social Instability, Mass Unrest in China: Not Anytime Soon 2009
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Thus pragmatical belief has degrees, varying in proportion to the interests at stake.
The LHC Will Discover the Higgs. Wanna Bet? | Universe Today 2009
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Perhaps Pelosi will also be pragmatical in that way.
Waldo Jaquith - Democrats’ advantage in the House of Delegates, 1990-2007. 2007
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But after 8 years of George Allen and then Jim Gilmore, they got pretty damned pragmatical about it and realized that those are the kind of candidates that will actually win statewide. 7 years of the Bush administration reminding them of what the alternative is has kept that pragmatism in effect.
Waldo Jaquith - Why the Democratic majority cannot dominate. 2007
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The other young man shall suffer restraint a few days, probably only a few hours, — it is not more than due for his pragmatical interference in what concerned him not.
Redgauntlet 2008
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What a plague of a pragmatical sea-lawyer have we here?
Westward Ho! 2007
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A high-minded reader who frequents galleries and has season tickets for the symphony might despise it, while a pragmatical banker will shed tears with Lucia and Mimi at any opportunity.
Introduction 2005
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