a. and sb. Forms: 5 exspedyent, 5–6 expedyent(e, 6 expediente, (expedien), 4– expedient. [a. Fr. expédient, ad. L. expedient-em, pr. pple. of expedīre: see EXPEDITE v. In sense 2 the modern adjective follows the sense of the L. verb ‘to forward matters, be helpful or serviceable,’ a development from the sense represented by EXPEDITE v. 2.]
A. adj.
I. † 1. Hasty, ‘expeditious,’ speedy. Also, of a march: Direct. Obs. Cf. EXPEDITE a. 4.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), III. 817. In ower weyys we be expedyent.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., I. iv. 39. Expedient manage must be made my Liege. Ibid. (1594), Rich. III., I. ii. 217. I will with all expedient duty see you. Ibid. (1595), John, II. i. 60. His marches are expedient to this towne.
† b. quasi-adv. Nimbly, skilfully. Obs.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XVI. ii. Musyke, the lady excellent, Played on base organs expedient.
II. 2. Conducive to advantage in general, or to a definite purpose; fit, proper or suitable to the circumstances of the case. Const. for, † to.
a. as pred. or complement, often with subj. it, and followed by infinitive phrase or noun-sentence.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. xxi. (1495), 876. It is not expedient … to reherse alle the causes of wanne colour.
c. 1430. Lydg., Bochas, III. xii. (1554), 85 a. To their noblesse … Nothing in earth was more expedient.
1519. Interl. Four Elem., in Hazl., Dodsley, I. 17. Those things to know for me be full expedient.
1548–9. (Mar.) Bk. Com. Prayer, Offices, 1. It is expediente that Baptisme be ministred in the Englishe tounge.
1586. Cogan, Haven Health, cxiii. (1636), 114. [Pomegranates] that are soure bee more expedient and wholesome.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xvii. 86. What he thinks expedient for the common benefit.
1659. B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age (ed. 2), 217. That nothing could be more expedient to the safety of the common-wealth, than to bring him to the Bar of Justice.
1793. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), IV. 29. The President thought it expedient … to remind our fellow-citizens that we were in a state of peace.
1799. T. Beddoes, Contrib. Phys. & Med. Knowl., 277. These, if not necessary to the existence of vegetables, may be expedient to their flourishing state.
1841. Myers, Cath. Th., III. § 42. 115. Alterations, therefore, become expedient from time to time.
1845. McCulloch, Taxation, II. vi. (1852), 277. It may … be expedient … that roads should be constructed.
b. qualifying a sb.
1643. Milton, Divorce, Pref. (1851), 18. An expedient liberty and truth.
1676–7. Marvell, Corr., Wks. 1872–5, II. 531. To propound some expedient proposalls.
1806. W. Taylor, in Ann. Rev., IV. 885. The most expedient settlements for a trading country.
1841. Catlin, N. Amer. Ind. (1844), I. xviii. 127. The chiefs and doctors … consult on the most expedient measures to be taken.
1891. F. Hall, in Nation (N.Y.), LIII. 447/3. Its [the word gotten] expedient disappearance from Matthew xi.
3. In depreciative sense, ‘useful’ or ‘politic’ as opposed to ‘just’ or ‘right.’ Often absol.
1774. Goldsm., Retal., 40. Too fond of the right to pursue the expedient.
1861. Mill, Utilit., ii. 32. 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.
4. Studious of ‘expediency.’
1828. L. Hunt, Byron & Contemp., I. 304. Triflers with their hourly word for gain; expedient statesmen.
B. sb.
† 1. Something that helps forward, or that conduces to an object: a means to an end. Obs. rare.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. viii. (1675), 218. Employing the Methods and Expedients afforded us by Reason.
1667. Decay Chr. Piety, vii. 150. God … does not project for our sorrow, but our innocence; and would never have invited us to the one, but as an expedient to the other.
† b. A medium or means of reconciliation. Obs.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies (1840), I. 340. I know not how to reconcile this rhyme with another which I meet with in the same author…. But, in order of an expedient betwixt them, [etc.] Ibid., II. 1. The earth … may pass for an expedient betwixt pleasure and profit.
2. A contrivance or device adopted for attaining an end; a resource, ‘shift.’
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., iv. 9. As for us seven Portugals … we could find out no better expedient to save our lives, then to return into the same hole, from whence we came.
1674. Brevint, Saul at Endor, xi. 240. Finding out expedients … for shifting from one to another all personal Punishments.
1719. London & Wise, Compl. Gard., iv. 325. By the same expedient of Hotbeds we may also raise in … cold Weather, little Sallads.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. I. 37–8. The wretched expedients to which the orthodox … had recourse.
1874. Green, Short Hist., vi. 328. When every expedient had been exhausted by Norfolk … Cromwell came again to the front.
3. Comb. expedient-monger.
1656. J. Harrington, Oceana (1658), 143. Their Counsellours … are expedient-mongers.
1724. Swift, Drapier’s Lett., Wks. 1755, V. II. 142–3 (Jod.). Expedient-mongers, who shake their heads so strongly that we can hear their pockets jingle.
Hence Expedientness, fitness, convenientness.
1730–6. in Bailey (folio).
1775. in Ash.
