Samuel's Definitions

These are the definitions I have found that I liked so far.


Pragmatic:

A straightforward practical way of thinking about things or dealing with problems, concerned with results rather than with theories and principles.
---------- http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861737498/pragmatism.html

A practical, matter-of-fact way of approaching or assessing situations or of solving problems.
---------http://www.bartleby.com/61/3/P0500300.html

Solving problems in a realistic way which suits the present conditions rather than obeying fixed theories, ideas or rules.
----------http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=62120&dict=CALD

concerned with actual causes and effects rather than abstract theories or ideas; practical.-- http://www.wordsmyth.net:80/live/home.php?script=search&matchent=pragmatic&matchtype=exact

practical as opposed to idealistic relating to matters of fact or practical affairs often to the exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters. ------------------Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary 1973

Idealism:

Aspiring to or living in accordance with high standards or principles.
---------http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861619952

The pursuit of or belief in noble ideals, principles, and values.
-------- http://www.wordsmyth.net/live/home.php?script=search&matchent=idealism&matchtype

Pursuit of one's ideals.
---------http://www.bartleby.com/61/87/I0018700.html

Behavior or thought based on a conception of things as they should be or as one would wish them to be; idealization
---------http://www.yourdictionary.com/idealism

1. Impracticality by virtue of thinking of things in their ideal form rather than as they really are. 2. The doctrine that ideas are the only reality.
---------- http://ultralingua.com/onlinedictionary/index.html?service=ee&text=idealism

The practice of forming ideals or living under their influence
----------Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary 1973
Human Rights:
rights which are believed to belong justifiably to every person --------Oxford English Dictionary

freedom, justice, and equality: the rights that are considered by most societies to belong automatically to everyone, e.g. the rights to freedom, justice, and equality
----------Encarta World Dictionary

Conflict:

A disagreement or clash between ideas, principles, or people
----------http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861599517

Competitive or opposing action of incompatibles. To contend in warfare ---------Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary 1973


Practical:

Encarta: appropriate, sensible, and likely to be effective ---------------------------
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/dictionary/DictionaryResults.aspx?refid=1861737519

Oxford: likely to be effective in real circumstances; feasible ------------------http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/practical?view=uk

Yourdictionary.com: usable; workable; useful and sensible ------------------http://www.yourdictionary.com:80/practical

Yourdictionary.com: that which can be done or put into practice -------
http://www.yourdictionary.com/practicable

Merriam-Webster: capable of being put into practice or of being done or accomplished ---------------------------
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/practicable

Wordsmyth: capable of being done or put into practice ------------------http://www.wordsmyth.net/live/home.php?script=search&matchent=practicable&matchtype=exact/

Webster’s new collegiate dictionary 1973: 4: qualified by practice 5: concerned with voluntary action and ethical decisions.

Practicable: possible to practice or perform ------------------------------------Webster’s new collegiate dictionary 1973

Encarta: capable of being carried out or put into effect

practicable or practical? These two adjectives have overlapping meanings. Both indicate that something can be done, but practical also implies that it is appropriate, sensible, or useful: It is practicable to do the calculation in the traditional way, but far more practical to use a computer. The difference between impracticable and impractical is rather more clear-cut: impracticable means "impossible" and impractical means "not workable when put into practice."


Practicable or Practical? Shared meaning element: capable of being used or turned to account. In spite of the common element of meaning these terms are not interchangeable without loss of precision of expression. PRACTICABLE applies chiefly to something immaterial which has not been tested in practice or to something material that has not been proved in service or use; the term implies expectation rather than assurance of successful testing or policy. PRACTICAL stresses opposition to all that is theoretical, speculative, ideal, unrealistic, or imaginative and implies a relation to the actual life of man, his daily needs, or problems that must be met. The term emphasizes actual established usefulness rather than discovered or theoretical usableness.