- pragmatic
- 1543 (implied in pragmatical), from M.Fr. pragmatique, from L. pragmaticus "skilled in business or law," from Gk. pragmatikos "versed in business," from pragma (gen. pragmatos) "civil business, deed, act," from prassein "to do, act, perform." Pragmatism in philosophy is attested from 1898, first in William James, probably from Ger. Pragmatismus.