a. ? Obs. [irreg. f. STRATAGEM + -IC + -AL.] Belonging to, concerned with, of the nature of, stratagem.
1585. Daniel, P. Jovius’ Disc. Imprese, etc. H iij. A Calthrope, a Stratagemical instrument vsed in warre.
1599. R. Linche, Anc. Fiction, V iiij. The house of Mars … is built in an obscure corner of Thracia, where the people wholly giue and addict themselues to warres and stratagemicall policies.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 331. Their [the Jesuits’] paradoxall, pragmaticall, and stratagemicall doctrine.
1688. ? Swift, Tripos, in J. Barrett, Ess. Life Swift (1808), 76. His wife, who, to gain entirely his affections, sent him this stratagemical epistle.
1838. B. Corney, Controv., 12. In every species of controversy, there is scope for the exercise of stratagemical ingenuity.
Hence Stratagemically adv.
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 104. Which to performe stratagemically, they commended his said Vncle exceedingly.
1838. B. Corney, Controv., 12. A fact or argument of an inconveniently formidable nature, may be met stratagemically.
