Ad hoc
for the special purpose or end presently under consideration:
a committee formed ad hoc to deal with the issue.
concerned or dealing with a specific subject, purpose, or end:
The ad hoc committee disbanded after making its final report.
Contemporary Examples
Loubani and Greyson found themselves inside the Fateh Mosque, which had become an ad hoc sanctuary, field hospital and morgue.
Interview With Canadian Filmmaker John Greyson Following His Release from Cairo’s Tora Prison Jesse Rosenfeld October 10, 2013
During the dozen years or so since the R2P concept was formulated, its application has been complicated and ad hoc.
Still a Problem From Hell, Two Decades After Rwanda John Prendergast April 7, 2014
Leaving decisions to the ad hoc judgment of such regulators only opens the door to future errors.
Why Washington Won’t Prevent Another Meltdown Jeff Madrick October 27, 2009
Congress keeps funding it ad hoc—but when the GOP takes over the Senate next year, who knows.
To GOP Congress, as Usual, It’s Welfare on the Chopping Block Monica Potts December 24, 2014
And do Obama and Brennan have any criteria for picking targets, or is it just ad hoc?
Everything You Need to Know About Drones Josh Dzieza February 6, 2013
Historical Examples
The President reviewed the ad hoc committee’s findings and approved the recommendations for Federal action.
An Assessment of the Consequences and Preparations for a Catastrophic California Earthquake: Findings and Actions Taken Various
ad hoc attonitus prior cum admiracione dixit: Vere si hoc constaret, mundo non sic habundaretis sicut habundatis.
The Grey Friars in Oxford Andrew G. Little
But it was administered by ad hoc offices rather than companies and was not reliable in making payments.
Our Legal Heritage, 5th Ed. S. A. Reilly
ad hoc prstandum mihi videbatur ille, et natura compositus et accensus studio.
History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century (Volume 1) J. H. Merle D’Aubign
Many persons were arrested, and a military commission, ad hoc; was appointed to try them.
Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Complete Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne
adjective, adverb
for a particular purpose only; lacking generality or justification: an ad hoc decision, an ad hoc committee
Latin, literally “for this (specific purpose).”
ad hoc [(ad hok, ad hohk)]
A phrase describing something created especially for a particular occasion: “We need an ad hoc committee to handle this new problem immediately.” From Latin, meaning “toward this (matter).”
Contrived purely for the purpose in hand rather than planned carefully in advance. E.g. “We didn’t know what to do about the sausage rolls, so we set up an ad-hoc committee”.
(1995-03-25)
For the special purpose or end at hand; also, by extension, improvised or impromptu. The term, Latin for “to this,” is most often used for committees established for a specific purpose, as in The committee was formed ad hoc to address health insurance problems. The term is also used as an adjective (An ad hoc committee was formed), and has given rise to the noun adhocism for the tendency to use temporary, provisional, or improvised methods to deal with a particular problem. [ Early 1600s ]
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appealing to one’s prejudices, emotions, or special interests rather than to one’s intellect or reason. attacking an opponent’s character rather than answering his argument. Contemporary Examples This was hardly an ad hominem assault, though West interpreted it that way. Does Allen West Hate Women? Michelle Goldberg July 21, 2011 When it comes to ad hominem […]
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