is often used as equivalent to expediency; as, many think honesty to be
good _policy_. _Polity_ used in ecclesiastical use serves a valuable
purpose in distinguishing that which relates to administration and
government from that which relates to faith and doctrine; two churches
identical in faith may differ in _polity_, or those agreeing in _polity_
may differ in faith. Compare LAW.

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PORTION.

Synonyms:

lot, parcel, part, proportion, share.

When any whole is divided into _parts_, any _part_ that is allotted to
some person, thing, subject or purpose is called a _portion_, tho the
division may be by no fixed rule or relation; a father may divide his
estate by will among his children so as to make their several _portions_
great or small, according to his arbitrary and unreasonable caprice.
When we speak of a _part_ as a _proportion_, we think of the whole as
divided according to some rule or scale, so that the different _parts_
bear a contemplated and intended relation or ratio to one another; thus,
the _portion_ allotted to a child by will may not be a fair _proportion_
of the estate. _Proportion_ is often used where _part_ or _portion_
would be more appropriate. Compare PART.

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POVERTY.

Synonyms:

beggary, distress, mendicancy, pauperism, privation,
destitution, indigence, need, penury, want.

_Poverty_ denotes strictly lack of property or adequate means of
support, but in common use is a relative term denoting any condition
below that of easy, comfortable living; _privation_ denotes a condition
of painful lack of what is useful or desirable, tho not to the extent of
absolute _distress_; _indigence_ is lack of ordinary means of
subsistence; _destitution_ is lack of the comforts, and in part even of
the necessaries of life; _penury_ is especially cramping _poverty_,
possibly not so sharp as _destitution_, but continuous, while that may
be temporary; _pauperism_ is such _destitution_ as throws one upon
organized public charity for support; _beggary_ and _mendicancy_ denote
_poverty_ that appeals for indiscriminate private charity.

* * * * *

POWER.

Synonyms:

ability, competency, expertness, readiness,
aptitude, dexterity, faculty, skill,
capability, efficacy, force, strength,
capacity, efficiency, might,