expedient

名词 expedient:

1. a means to an end; not necessarily a principled or ethical one

形容词 expedient:

1. serving to promote your interest
2. appropriate to a purpose; practical

1. A clever, expedient way of doing something.
   诀窍做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法
2. As he had forgot his keys, he got into the house by the simple expedient of climbing through the window.
   他由于忘了带钥匙，便以简单的应急办法从窗户爬进屋里。
3. He thought it expedient not to tell his wife where he had been.
   他认为不告诉妻子他去过哪里是适宜的。

ex.pe.di.ent

adj.（形容词）
Appropriate to a purpose.
有利的：与目的相称的

Serving to promote one`s interest:
出于私利的：用来为自己利益服务的：
例句：
was merciful only when mercy was expedient.
只有仁慈对自己有利时才是仁慈的

Based on or marked by a concern for self-interest rather than principle; self-interested.
基于私利的：依自身利害而定的，基于私利而非原则考虑的；自私自利
Obsolete Speedy; expeditious.
【废语】 快速的；仓促的
n.（名词）
Something that is a means to an end.
对策：达到目的的方法
Something contrived or used to meet an urgent need.See Synonyms at makeshift
权宜之计，应急手段：为应急而设计或使用的事物参见 makeshift

来源：
Middle English
中古英语
from Latin expediôns expedient- [present participle of] expedore [to make ready] * see expedite
源自 拉丁语 expediôns expedient- [] expedore的现在分词 [做好准备] *参见 expedite

【引伸】
expe.diently
adv.（副词）