stratagem

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strat·a·gem

(străt′ə-jəm)

1. A scheme or maneuver designed to achieve an objective, as in surprising an enemy or deceiving someone. See Synonyms at wile.

2. The devising or execution of such schemes or maneuvers: "This devious, insinuating creature, whose every word and movement seemed part of the spinning of some invisible net of stratagem" (Richard Adams).

[Middle English, from Old French stratageme, from Old Italian stratagemma, from Latin stratēgēma, from Greek, from stratēgein, to be a general, from stratēgos, general : stratos, army; see ster- in Indo-European roots + agein, to lead; see ag- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

stratagem

(ˈstrætədʒəm)

a plan or trick, esp one to deceive an enemy

[C15: ultimately from Greek stratēgos a general, from stratos an army + agein to lead]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

strat•a•gem

(ˈstræt ə dʒəm)

n.

1. a scheme or trick for surprising or deceiving an enemy.

2. any artifice or ruse devised to attain a goal or gain an advantage.

[1480–90; (< Middle French stratageme) < Italian stratagemma war ruse < Latin stratēgēma < Greek stratḗgēma instance of generalship, derivative of stratēgeîn to be in command, derivative of stratēgós military commander (see strategy)]

syn: See trick.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	stratagem - a maneuver in a game or conversation gambit, ploy tactical maneuver, tactical manoeuvre, maneuver, manoeuvre - a move made to gain a tactical end
	2.	stratagem - an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or evade; "his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us off the track" dodge, contrivance scheme, strategy - an elaborate and systematic plan of action plant - something planted secretly for discovery by another; "the police used a plant to trick the thieves"; "he claimed that the evidence against him was a plant" pump-and-dump scheme - an illegal scheme for making money by manipulating stock prices; the schemer persuades other people to buy the stock and then sells it himself as soon as the price of the stock rises wangle, wangling - an instance of accomplishing something by scheming or trickery

stratagem

noun trick, scheme, manoeuvre, plan, plot, device, intrigue, dodge, ploy, ruse, artifice, subterfuge, feint, wile a competitive stratagem to secure customer loyalty

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

stratagem

noun

1. A method of deploying troops and equipment in combat:

maneuver, tactic.

2. An indirect, usually cunning means of gaining an end:

artifice, deception, device, dodge, feint, gimmick, imposture, jig, maneuver, ploy, ruse, sleight, subterfuge, trick, wile.

Informal: shenanigan, take-in.

Translations

خُدْعَه حَرْبِيَّه

lesttrik

kneb

Kriegslist ListStratagemaStrategem

estratagema

juonipetossalajuoni

stratagème

hadicsel

kænsku-/herbragî

stratagemma

kara viltībatriksviltība

krigslistlist

hile

计谋

stratagem

[ˈstrætɪdʒəm] N → estratagema f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

stratagem

[ˈstrætədʒəm] n → stratagème m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

stratagem

n (Mil) → Kriegslist f; (= artifice) → List f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

stratagem

[ˈstrætɪdʒəm] n → stratagemma m

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

stratagem

(ˈstrӕtədʒəm) noun

a trick or plan.

Mentioned in ?

References in classic literature ?

Every one commended the stratagem; and the Emperor commanded the Abyssin to restore all the presents he had received, and delivered them with many more to Peter Leon.

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When she saw that she could get no redress and that her words were despised, the Owl attacked the chatterer by a stratagem. "Since I cannot sleep," she said, "on account of your song which, believe me, is sweet as the lyre of Apollo, I shall indulge myself in drinking some nectar which Pallas lately gave me.

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He effected, by stratagem, the escape of the prisoner.

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Gloom at Astoria- An Ingenious Stratagem.- The Small-Pox Chief.

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I bear witness, in the most disinterested manner, to the excellence of the stratagem by which this unparalleled woman surprised the private interview between Percival and myself-- also to the marvellous accuracy of her report of the whole conversation from its beginning to its end.

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A little harmless stratagem is necessary to forward your views.

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Nothing indeed could have happened so very inopportune as this accident; the most wanton malice of fortune could not have contrived such another stratagem to confound the poor fellow, while he was so triumphantly descanting on the good morals inculcated by his exhibitions.

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Sancho fetched him his clothes; and while he was dressing, the curate gave Don Fernando and the others present an account of Don Quixote's madness and of the stratagem they had made use of to withdraw him from that Pena Pobre where he fancied himself stationed because of his lady's scorn.

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The causes of superstition are: pleasing and sensual rites and ceremonies; excess of outward and pharisaical holiness; overgreat reverence of traditions, which cannot but load the church; the stratagems of prelates, for their own ambition and lucre; the favoring too much of good intentions, which openeth the gate to conceits and novelties; the taking an aim at divine matters, by human, which cannot but breed mixture of imaginations: and, lastly, barbarous times, especially joined with calamities and disasters.

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For want of more exalted adversaries Dominic turned his audacity fertile in impious stratagems against the powers of the earth, as represented by the institution of Custom-houses and every mortal belonging thereto - scribes, officers, and guardacostas afloat and ashore.

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CAPTAIN BONNEVILLE now found himself at the head of a hardy, well-seasoned and well-appointed company of trappers, all benefited by at least one year's experience among the mountains, and capable of protecting themselves from Indian wiles and stratagems, and of providing for their subsistence wherever game was to be found.

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The Marriage-Settlement, the Will, the presence of the family at his country house--all these he believed to be so many stratagems invented to keep him deceived until the last moment.