# diplomatic

Pronunciation: say "dip-luh-MAT-ik" /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk/

## Adjective

1. Concerning the official relationships between the governments of different countries.
   - Simple: Having to do with how the governments of different countries deal with each other.
   - _The two nations resumed diplomatic talks after years of silence._
   - _Diplomatic relations between the neighboring states broke down last month._
2. Showing tact and courtesy, and using discussion to avoid bad feelings or arguments.
   - Simple: Careful to say and do things in a way that does not upset people.
   - _She gave a diplomatic answer that satisfied both sides._
   - _He was diplomatic enough to praise everyone's work before suggesting changes._
3. Describing an edition of a text that reproduces a single base manuscript, with variant readings from other manuscripts recorded in the critical apparatus.
   - Simple: Describing a printed text that copies one main handwritten version exactly, while noting the differences found in other old copies.
   - _The press issued a diplomatic edition based on the earliest surviving manuscript._
   - _Scholars prefer a diplomatic transcription when the manuscript's exact wording matters._
4. Relating to diplomatics, the study of old texts and documents, and to the dating of historical handwriting.
   - Simple: Having to do with the study of old documents and handwriting.
   - _Her diplomatic analysis authenticated the medieval charter._
   - _The journal published a diplomatic study of the script in the ancient deed._

## Noun

5. The science concerned with deciphering ancient writings and documents and determining their age, authenticity, and origin; paleography.
   - Simple: The study of old documents and writings to find out how old they are and whether they are real.
   - _His mastery of diplomatic let him date the charter from its script alone._
   - _Courses in diplomatic teach students to judge the authenticity of medieval deeds._

## Origin

The word comes from French "diplomatique" and its source, the New Latin "diplōmaticus". By surface analysis, it can be broken down into "diplomat" plus the suffix "-ic".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/diplomatic (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).