See Also: machiavellian(dictionary)
Machiavellian(dictionary)

machiavellian (iou)



machiavellian noun & adjective. Also (esp. as noun) Machiavellian. M16.
[from Niccolo dei Machiavelli (1469-1527), Florentine statesman (see below) + -IAN.]
A. noun. A person who adopts the principles recommended by Machiavelli in his treatise on statecraft; a person preferring expediency to morality. M16.
b. adjective. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Machiavelli or his principles; adopting unscrupulous methods; duplicitous, deceitful; cunning, scheming. L16.
F. Fyfield Securing further promotion was a Machiavellian exercise demanding paroxysms of sycophancy.
machiavellianism noun the principles and practice of Machiavelli; (an instance of) cunning or duplicity in behaviour: E17.
machiavellianly adverb (rare) in a machiavellian manner M17.