Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

stratagem

Cross references:
  1. trick                 
 
strat.a.gem \'strat-*-j*m, -.jem\ n [It stratagemma, fr. L strategema, fr. 
   Gk strate-ge-ma,] fr. strate-gein to be a general, maneuver, fr. strate-gos 
   general, fr. stratos army (akin to L stratus, pp. of sternere to spread 
   out) + agein to lead - more at STRATUM, AGENT 1a: an artifice or trick in 
   war for deceiving and outwitting the enemy  1b: a cleverly contrived trick 
   or scheme for gaining an end  2: skill in ruses or trickery