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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
Nor is it Homer nods, but we that dream.
stratagems
which error seem,Nor is it Homer nods, but we that dream.
Pope.
Webster 1828 Edition
Stratagem
STRATAGEM
,Noun.
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.