A Topical Dictionary: Search for stratagem

Dictionary Results For "stratagem" [?]/[OPML]

Ads By Google

Wiktionary Articles [RSS] - [GNU, www.Wiktionary.org]

English

Noun

A deceptive tactic designed to gain the upper hand. Typically, involves underhanded dealings and obfuscation.

Translations

Finnish: petos, juoni, salajuoni
French: stratagème
German: Strategem

Russian: стратагема
Spanish: estratagema

fr:stratagem io:stratagem te:stratagem vi:stratagem

GNU Project's publication of CIDE, the Collaborative International Dictionary of English 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 trick in war for deceiving the enemy; hence,
in general, artifice; deceptive device; secret plot; evil
machination.
[1913 Webster]

Fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]

Those oft are stratagems which error seem,
Nor is it Homer nods, but we that dream. --Pope.
[1913 Webster]

WordNet stratagem
n 1: a maneuver in a game or conversation [syn: ploy, gambit]
2: an elaborate or deceitful scheme contrived to deceive or
evade; "his testimony was just a contrivance to throw us
off the track" [syn: contrivance, dodge]

Moby Dictionary
action , ad hoc measure , alibi , answer , apology , art , artful dodge ,
artifice , bag of tricks , blind , bluff , bosey , cabal , catch ,
chicanery , chouse , cloak , collusion , color , complicity , complot ,
confederacy , connivance , conspiracy , contrivance , contriving ,
countermove , counterplot , coup , course of action , cover ,
cover story , cover-up , covin , craft , curve , curve-ball , cute trick ,
deceit , deep-laid plot , demarche , design , device , dirty deal ,
dirty trick , dodge , effort , engineering , excuse , expedient , facade ,
fakement , fast deal , feint , fetch , ficelle , finagling , finesse ,
frame-up , front , gambit , game , gimmick , gloss , googly , grift ,
guise , handle , hocus-pocus , improvisation , intrigue , joker , juggle ,
jugglery , jury-rig , jury-rigged expedient , knavery , lame excuse ,
last expedient , last resort , last shift , little game , locus standi ,
lure , machination , makeshift , maneuver , maneuvering , manipulation ,
mask , means , measure , move , ostensible motive , pass , pis aller ,
plan , play , plot , plotting , ploy , poor excuse , pretense ,
pretension , pretext , protestation , public motive , put-off , racket ,
red herring , refuge , resort , resource , rigging , ruse , scheme ,
schemery , scheming , screen , scurvy trick , semblance , shake-up ,
sham , shift , show , sleight , sleight of hand , sleight-of-hand trick ,
smoke screen , solution , stalking-horse , step , stopgap , strategy ,
stroke , stroke of policy , subterfuge , tactic , temporary expedient ,
trick , trickery , trump , underplot , varnish , veil , web of intrigue ,
wile , wily device , wire-pulling , working hypothesis ,
working proposition

STRATAGEM. A deception either by words or actions, in times of war, in order to obtain an advantage over an enemy. 2. Such stratagems, though contrary to morality, have been justified, unless they have been accompanied by perfidy, injurious to the rights of humanity, as in the example given by Vattel of an English frigate, which during a war between France and England, appeared off Calais and made signals of distress in order to allure some vessel to come to its relief, and seized a shallop and its crew, who had generously gone out to render it assistance. Vattel, Droit des Gens, liv. 3, c. 9, Sec. 178. 3. Sometimes stratagems are employed in making, contracts, this is unlawful and fraudulent, and avoids the contract. See Fraud.