n.
Pronunciation: ' stra-t ə -j ə m, - ˌ jem
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian stratagemma, from Latin strategema, from Greek strat ē g ē ma, from strat ē gein to be a general, maneuver, from strat ē gos general, from stratos camp, army (akin to Latin stratus, past participle, spread out) + agein to lead ― more at STRATUM , AGENT
Date: 15th century
1 a : an artifice or trick in war for deceiving and outwitting the enemy b : a cleverly contrived trick or scheme for gaining an end
2 : skill in ruses or trickery
synonyms see TRICK