spec. Political prudence; skill or shrewdness in public affairs; statecraft, diplomacy. Formerly also: †political cunning (obsolete). Now rare.

Management, administration, policy; statecraft; (also occasionally as a count noun) a method of government. Now rare.

The art of managing state affairs; statesmanship; (also) a style or system of this. Also (esp. in early use) in negative sense: cunning or…

The work or art of a statesman; skilful management of public affairs. Also: statesmen collectively.

= policy, n.1 in various senses. Obsolete.

The work or art of a statesman; statesmanship. Cf. statecraft, n.