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Webster 1913 Edition

Scheme

Scheme

,
Noun.
[L.
schema
a rhetorical figure, a shape, figure, manner, Gr. [GREEK], [GREEK], form, shape, outline, plan, fr. [GREEK], [GREEK], to have or hold, to hold out, sustain, check, stop; cf. Skr.
sah
to be victorious, to endure, to hold out, AS.
sige
victory, G.
sieg
.
Cf
.
Epoch
,
Hectic
,
School
.]
1.
A combination of things connected and adjusted by design; a system.
The appearance and outward
scheme
of things.
Locke.
Such a
scheme
of things as shall at once take in time and eternity.
Atterbury.
Arguments . . . sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole
scheme
of moral philosophy.
J. Edwards.
The Revolution came and changed his whole
scheme
of life.
Macaulay.
2.
A plan or theory something to be done; a design; a project;
as, to form a
scheme
.
The stoical
scheme
of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes.
Swift.
3.
Any lineal or mathematical diagram; an outline.
To draw an exact
scheme
of Constantinople, or a map of France.
South.
4.
(Astrol.)
A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies for any moment or at a given event.
A blue silk case, from which was drawn a
scheme
of nativity.
Sir W. Scott.
Syn. – Plan; project; contrivance; purpose; device; plot.
–
Scheme
,
Plan
. Scheme and plan are subordinate to design; they propose modes of carrying our designs into effect. Scheme is the least definite of the two, and lies more in speculation. A plan is drawn out into details with a view to being carried into effect. As schemes are speculative, they often prove visionary; hence the opprobrious use of the words schemer and scheming. Plans, being more practical, are more frequently carried into effect.
He forms the well-concerted
scheme
of mischief;
’T is fixed, 't is done, and both are doomed to death.
Rowe.
Artists and
plans
relieved my solemn hours;
I founded palaces, and planted bowers.
Prior.

Scheme

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Schemed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Scheming
.]
To make a scheme of; to plan; to design; to project; to plot.
That wickedness which
schemed
, and executed, his destruction.
G. Stuart.

Scheme

,
Verb.
I.
To form a scheme or schemes.

Webster 1828 Edition

Scheme

SCHEME

,
Noun.
[L. schema; Gr. from a contracted word, probably from to have or hold.]
1.
A plan; a combination of things connected and adjusted by design; a system.
We shall never be able to give ourselves a satisfactory account of the divine conduct without forming such a scheme of things as shall take in time and eternity.
2.
A project; a contrivance; a plan of something to be done; a design. Thus we say, to form a scheme, to lay a scheme, to contrive a scheme.
The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes.
3.
A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies; any lineal or mathematical diagram.

SCHEME

,
Verb.
T.
To plan; to contrive.

SCHEME

,
Verb.
I.
To form a plan; to contrive.

Definition 2024

Scheme

Scheme

See also: scheme and schème

English

Proper noun

Scheme

  1. A programming language, one of the two major dialects of Lisp.

Derived terms

scheme

scheme

See also: Scheme and schème

English

Noun

scheme ‎(plural schemes)

  1. A systematic plan of future action.
    • Jonathan Swift
      The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cutting off our feet when we want shoes.
    • 2013 June 1, “Ideas coming down the track”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 13 (Technology Quarterly):
      A “moving platform” scheme […] is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails. Local trains would use side-by-side rails to roll alongside intercity trains and allow passengers to switch trains by stepping through docking bays. This set-up solves several problems […].
  2. A plot or secret, devious plan.
  3. An orderly combination of related parts.
    • John Locke
      the appearance and outward scheme of things
    • Atterbury
      such a scheme of things as shall at once take in time and eternity
    • J. Edwards
      arguments […] sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme of moral philosophy
    • Macaulay
      The Revolution came and changed his whole scheme of life.
  4. A chart or diagram of a system or object.
    • South
      to draw an exact scheme of Constantinople, or a map of France
  5. (mathematics) A type of topological space.
  6. (Britain, chiefly Scotland) A council housing estate.
    • 2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin 2009, p. 101:
      It was all too dear. They all just put their prices up because it was out in the scheme.
  7. (rhetoric) An artful deviation from the ordinary arrangement of words.
  8. (astrology) A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies for any moment or at a given event.
    • Sir Walter Scott
      a blue case, from which was drawn a scheme of nativity
  9. (Internet) Part of a uniform resource identifier indicating the protocol or other purpose, such as http: or news:.

Usage notes

In the US, generally has devious connotations, while in the UK, frequently used as a neutral term for projects: “The road is closed due to a pavement-widening scheme.”

Synonyms

  • (a systematic plan of future action): blueprint

Translations

Verb

scheme ‎(third-person singular simple present schemes, present participle scheming, simple past and past participle schemed)

  1. (intransitive) To plot, or contrive a plan.
    • 2012 April 26, Tasha Robinson, “Film: Reviews: The Pirates! Band Of Misfits :”, in The Onion AV Club:
      The openly ridiculous plot has The Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) scheming to win the Pirate Of The Year competition, even though he’s a terrible pirate, far outclassed by rivals voiced by Jeremy Piven and Salma Hayek.

Translations

References

Middle Low German

Pronunciation

  • Stem vowel: ē¹
    • (originally) IPA(key): /skɪəmə/

Etymology

From Old Saxon skimo ‎(“shadow”). Originally masculine.

Noun

scheme m, f

  1. A shadow, a shade; a darkness created by an object obstructing light
  2. A shadow, a shade; something which is barely perceptible or not physical
    ...lose se van der walt der dusternisse unde van deme scheme des dodes. (" ...free them from the power of darkness and the shadow of death." )
  3. A shimmer; a soft or weak occurrence of light
  4. twilight; the lighting conditions at dusk and dawn
  5. A face mask
  6. aureola

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /skiːm/

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