Forms: 5–7 stratageme, 6 -geeme, 7 stratigem, 6– stratagem. [a. F. stratagème (= Sp., Pg. estratagema, It. stratagemma), ad. (with alteration of vowel in the second syllable) L. stratēgēma, a. Gr. στρατήγημα a piece of generalship, stratagem, f. στρατηγεῖν to be a general, f. στρατηγός STRATEGUS.]
1. An operation or act of generalship; usually, an artifice or trick designed to outwit or surprise the enemy.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., II. i. 91. Whiche subtilites and wylis are called stratagemes of armes.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 173 b. Therle of Salisbury … knewe the slaightes, stratagemes and pollecies of warlike affaires.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 93. By this stratageme or policie, they came sodenly vppon Maiobanexius, and tooke hym prisoner.
1639. R. Ward, Animadv. Warre, I. 329. Breda … was once by the Hollander surprized, by a Stratagem of a Boate laden with Turffe, in whose Keele was imbarqued very closely divers valiant Gentlemen.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., v. 12. He was advertised by spies what stratagems the enemy would use against us.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 269. I presently thought of a Stratagem to fetch them back again.
1840. Thirlwall, Greece, lvii. VII. 261. Antigonus … surprised the victors by a stratagem something like Lysander’s at Ægos-potami.
1863. Livingstone, Zambesi, ix. 190. Attempting to carry out the skilful plans and stratagems of some eminent leader.
fig. 1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., Introd. (1848), p. xxxi. In the spiritual Warfare, where our Adversary is the old Serpent, Stratagems are as Lawful as Expedient.
1859. Geo. Eliot, Adam Bede, xii. It is the favourite stratagem of our passions to sham a retreat, and to turn sharp round upon us at the moment we have made up our minds that the day is our own.
b. In generalized sense: Military artifice.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. viii. 113. Without stratagem, But in plaine shock, and euen play of Battaile.
1717. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to C’tess Mar, 30 Jan. The Turks once more attempted to gain it [Raab] by stratagem.
1853. Sir H. Douglas, Milit. Bridges, 200. In the following campaign, by having recourse to stratagem, he succeeded better.
1874. Bancroft, Footpr. Time, i. 77. He then turned his arms against Babylon which he took by stratagem after a long siege.
2. Any artifice or trick; a device or scheme for obtaining an advantage.
1588. Marprel. Epist. (Arb.), 38. I doubt not in my visitation, but to get a hundreth of these stratagemes.
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., II. i. 35. I haue already found a stratageme, To sound the bottome of this doubtfull theame.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Olearius’ Voy. Ambass., 12. It was a Stratageme of the Inhabitants, who had incens’d the Bees, purposely to prevent our lodging in the Village.
1728. Young, Love Fame, VI. 187. For her own breakfast she’ll project a scheme, Nor take her tea without a stratagem.
1750. Johnson, Rambler, No. 35, ¶ 10. I shall not trouble you with a history of the stratagems practised on my judgement.
1830. Herschel, Stud. Nat. Phil., 2. His existence would be one continued subterfuge or stratagem.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul (1883), 680. The stratagem was for the time … successful.
b. In generalized sense: Skill in devising expedients; artifice, cunning.
1588. Shaks., Tit. A., II. i. 104. ’Tis pollicie and stratageme must doe That you affect.
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1757), II. 81. A Horse is a noble Creature, naturally strong and courageous, and, for this Reason, he is not endowed with so much Stratagem as others of less account.
1837. Thirlwall, Greece, xxxv. IV. 361. Notorious for his mastery in the arts of stratagem and intrigue.
1872. Geo. Eliot, Middlem., vi. Obliged to get my coals by stratagem.
† 3. Used loosely for: A deed of blood or violence. Obs.
1588. Greene, Pandosto (1607), G 4. To close up the Comedie with a Tragicall stratageme, he slew himselfe. Ibid. (1589), Tullies Love (1616), K 3. The Senators seeing what bloudy stratagems would insue of this strife, if it were not pacified, sent for the Consuls.
1592. in J. Morris, Troubles Cath. Forefathers (1877), 50. Of these late executions, you shall have shortly a more particular and true advertisement, by a priest who was present at the stratagem.
1593. Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. v. 89. What Stra[ta]gems? how fell? how Butcherly? Erreoneous, mutinous, and vnnaturall, This deadly quarrell daily doth beget?
1601. Yarington, Two Lament. Trag., II. ii. in Bullen, O. Pl., IV. Blood-sucking Avarice, and all the Sinnes, That hale men on to bloodie stratagems.
1606. G. W[oodcocke], Hist. Justine, XXXVII. ii. 116. Fearing his enemies would compasse the treason by stratigem, which they could not by poyson [L. ne inimici, quod veneno non potuerant, ferro peragerent].
