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Note added at 9 mins (2011-08-02 22:10:08 GMT)
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expedient, a. and n.

(ɛkˈspiːdɪənt)

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.A adj. I.A.I †1.A.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 Shakes. Rich. II, i. iv. 39 Expedient manage must be made my Liege.    1594 ― Rich. III, i. ii. 217, I will with all expedient duty see you.    1595 ― John ii. i. 60 His marches are expedient to this towne.

†b.A.I.1.b quasi-adv. Nimbly, skilfully. Obs.

   1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xvi. ii, Musyke, the lady excellent, Played on base organs expedient.

II. 2.A.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.A.II.2.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 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 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. xlii. 160 Alterations‥become expedient from time to time.    1845 McCulloch Taxation ii. vi. (1852) 277 It may‥be expedient‥that roads should be constructed.

b.A.II.2.b qualifying a n.

   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 most expedient measures.    1891 F. Hall in Nation (N.Y.) LIII. 447/3 Its [the word gotten] expedient disappearance from Matthew xi.

3.A.II.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.A.II.4 Studious of ‘expediency’.

   1828 L. Hunt Byron & Contemp. I. 304 Triflers with their hourly word for gain; expedient statesmen.

B.B n.

†1.B.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.B.1.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.B.2 A contrivance or device adopted for attaining an end; a resource, ‘shift’.

   1653 H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. iv. 9 As for us seven Portugals‥we could find out no better expedient to save our lives, then to return.    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 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.B.3 Comb. expedient-monger.

   1656 Harrington Oceana (1700) 134 Their Counsillors‥are expedientmongers.    a 1745 Swift (Jod.), Expedient⁓mongers shake their heads.

Hence exˈpedientness, fitness, convenientness.

   1730–6 in Bailey (folio).    1775 in Ash.

Значенията като прилагателно.

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Note added at 11 mins (2011-08-02 22:11:35 GMT)
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източник: Oxford English Dictionary

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Note added at 12 mins (2011-08-02 22:13:13 GMT)
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Възможно е да се преведе и с израз от рода на: [...has ruled] as appropriate