[po.lice] vt po.liced ; po.lic.ing (1589) [in sense 1, fr. MF policier, fr. police conduct of public affairs; in other senses, fr.
[2]police] 1 archaic: govern
2: to control, regulate, or keep in order by use of police
3: to make clean and put in order
4. a: to supervise the operation, execution, or administration of to prevent or detect and prosecute violations of rules and regulations b: to exercise such supervision over the policies and activities of
5: to perform the functions of a police force in or over
[2]police n, pl police often attrib [F, fr. LL politia government, administration, fr. Gk politeia, fr. polites citizen, fr. polis city, state; akin to Skt pur rampart, Lith pilis castle] (1716) 1 a: the internal organization or regulation of a political unit through exercise of governmental powers esp. with respect to general comfort, health, morals, safety, or prosperity b: control and regulation of affairs affecting the general order and welfare of any unit or area c: the system of laws for effecting such control
2. a: the department of government concerned primarily with maintenance of public order, safety, and health and enforcement of laws and possessing executive, judicial, and legislative powers b: the department of government charged with prevention, detection, and prosecution of public nuisances and crimes 3 a: police force b pl: police officers
4. a: a private organization resembling a police force "campus ~" b pl: the members of a private police organization
5. a: the action or process of cleaning and putting in order b: military personnel detailed to perform this function