stratagem

stratagem
noun

Warren devised a series of stratagems to win their confidence

Syn:
plan, scheme, tactic, maneuver, ploy, device, trick, ruse, plot, machination, dodge; subterfuge, artifice, wile; archaic shift
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stratagem
The mistaken spelling strategem (on the analogy of strategy) appears about 20% as often as the correct spelling stratagem. Though the words stratagem and strategy are etymologically related, they came into English by different routes, and their spellings diverged merely as a matter of long-standing convention. What happened is that the Latin strategema became stratagema in Romance languages such as French. (The Century Dictionary calls the Romance spelling "erroneous.") Stratagem came into English in the fifteenth century, through French. But it wasn't until the early nineteenth century that English and American writers borrowed strategy (originally a Greek term) from Latin. Hence our incongruous spellings today. — BG

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  • Stratagem — may refer to:* HMS Stratagem (P234), an S class submarine * Stratagem (deception), an attempt to swindle a person which involves gaining his or her confidence * , the 66th episode of Star Trek: Enterprise …   Wikipedia

  • stratagem — (n.) artifice, trick, late 15c., from M.Fr. stratagème trick, especially to outwit an enemy, from It. stratagemma, from L. strategema artifice, stratagem, from Gk. strategema the act of a general, military stratagem, from strategein to be a… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Stratagem — Strat a*gem, n. [F. stratag[ e]me (cf. Sp. estratagema, It. stratagemma), L. strategema, Gr. ?, fr. ? to be leader of an army, fr. ? a general; ? an army (probably as being spread out; cf. {Stratum}) + ? to lead. See {Agent}.] An artifice or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Stratagēm — Stratagēm, s. Strategem …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • stratagem — I noun ars, artful contrivance, artifice, blind, cheat, chicane, contrivance, crafty device, cunning, deceit, deception, device, dodge, dolus, evasion, excuse, expedient, feint, finesse, gimmick, intrigue, machination, maneuver, manipulation,… …   Law dictionary

  • stratagem — *trick, ruse, maneuver, gambit, ploy, artifice, wile, feint Analogous words: *device, contrivance, contraption: expedient, shift, *resource, resort: machination, intrigue, conspiracy, *plot …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • stratagem — ► NOUN 1) a plan or scheme intended to outwit an opponent. 2) archaic cunning. ORIGIN Greek strat g ma, from strat gein be a general …   English terms dictionary

  • stratagem — [strat′ə jəm] n. [LME stratageme < L strategema < Gr stratēgēma, device or act of a general < stratēgos, a general < stratos, army (for IE base see STREW) + agein, to lead: see ACT1] 1. a trick, scheme, or plan for deceiving an enemy… …   English World dictionary

  • stratagem — n. 1) to resort to, use a stratagem 2) a subtle stratagem * * * [ strætədʒəm] use a stratagem a subtle stratagem to resort to …   Combinatory dictionary

  • stratagem — [[t]stræ̱təʤəm[/t]] stratagems N COUNT A stratagem is a plan that is intended to achieve a particular effect, often by deceiving people. [FORMAL] Trade discounts may be used as a competitive stratagem to secure customer loyalty. Syn: ploy …   English dictionary

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