n.
Pronunciation: ' s ə b-t ə r- ˌ fyüj
Function: noun
Etymology: Late Latin subterfugium, from Latin subterfugere to escape, evade, from subter- secretly (fr. subter underneath; akin to Latin sub under) + fugere to flee ― more at UP , FUGITIVE
Date: 1573
1 : deception by artifice or stratagem in order to conceal, escape, or evade
2 : a deceptive device or stratagem
synonyms see DECEPTION