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Webster 1913 Edition


Stratagem

Strat′a-gem

,
Noun.
[F.
stratagème
(cf. Sp.
estratagema
, It.
stratagemma
), L.
strategema
, Gr. [GREEK], fr. [GREEK] to be leader of an army, fr. [GREEK] a general; [GREEK] an army (probably as being spread out; cf.
Stratum
) + [GREEK] to lead. See
Agent
.]
An artifice or trick in war for deceiving the enemy; hence, in general, artifice; deceptive device; secret plot; evil machination.
Fit for treasons,
stratagems
, and spoils.
Shakespeare
Those oft are
stratagems
which error seem,
Nor is it Homer nods, but we that dream.
Pope.

Webster 1828 Edition


Stratagem

STRATAGEM

,
Noun.
[L., Gr., to lead an army.]
1.
An artifice, particularly in war; a plan or scheme for deceiving an enemy.
2.
An artifice; a trick by which some advantage is intended to be obtained.
Those oft are stratagems which errors seem.

Definition 2024


stratagem

stratagem

English

Noun

stratagem (plural stratagems)

  1. A tactic or artifice designed to gain the upper hand, especially one involving underhanded dealings or deception.
    • 22 March 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Hunger Games:
      While Collins does include a love triangle, a coming-of-age story, and other YA-friendly elements in the mix, they serve as a Trojan horse to smuggle readers into a hopeless world where love becomes a stratagem and growing up is a matter of basic survival.

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Old French

Etymology

From Latin strategema, from Ancient Greek στρατήγημα (stratḗgēma).

Noun

stratagem m (oblique plural stratagens, nominative singular stratagens, nominative plural stratagem)

  1. strategy; stratagem