29 December 2014

judicious

[joo-dish-uh s]

adjective
1. using or showing judgment as to action or practical expediency; discreet, prudent, or politic:
judicious use of one’s money.
2. having, exercising, or characterized by good or discriminating judgment; wise, sensible, or well-advised:
a judicious selection of documents.

Origin
French, Italian, Latin
1590-1600; < Latin jūdici (um) judgment (see judge, -ium ) + -ous; compare Italian giudizioso, French judicieux

Related forms
judiciously, adverb
judiciousness, noun
overjudicious, adjective
overjudiciously, adverb
overjudiciousness, noun

Can be confused
judicial, judiciary, judicious (see synonym study at the current entry)

Synonyms
1. See practical. 1, 2. See moderate. 2. rational, reasonable, sober, sound, sagacious, enlightened, considered. Judicious, judicial both refer to a balanced and wise judgment. Judicious implies the possession and use of discerning and discriminating judgment: a judicious use of one’s time. Judicial has connotations of judgments made in a courtroom and refers to a fair and impartial kind of judgment: cool and judicial in examining the facts.

Antonyms
1. imprudent. 2. silly, unreasonable.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the web for judicious
– You’re very judicious about when and where you distribute that e-mail address.
– Because without judicious planning, an unexpected bestseller can be devastating.
– At the heart of science are judicious observations and measurements.

Today’s aphorism

The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.

– William Blake

On this day

29 December 1890 – Massacre at Wounded Knee. The last battle of the American Indian Wars was fought at Wounded Knee Creek, on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian reservation, South Dakota. The US 7th Cavalry Regiment opened fire on the Reservation, massacring around 300 people, including 200 women and children, and wounding 51. Twenty-five US soldiers died, most from friendly fire.

29 December 1998 – Six people die in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race as huge waves swamp the vessels during the 1167km race.

29 December 1998 – Former Khmer Rouge leaders apologise for the Pol Pot led genocide in Kampuchea (now known as Cambodia), which killed 1 million people between 1975 and 1979.