| 释义 |
stratagem|ˈstrætədʒəm|
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.
1489Caxton Faytes of A. ii. i. 91 Whiche subtilites and wylis are called stratagemes of armes. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 173 b, Therle of Salisbury..knewe the slaightes, stratagemes and pollecies of warlike affaires. 1555Eden Decades (Arb.) 93 By this stratageme or policie, they came sodenly vppon Maiobanexius, and tooke hym prisoner. 1639R. 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. 1653H. Cogan tr. Pinto's Trav. v. 12 He was advertised by spies what stratagems the enemy would use against us. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. (Globe) 269, I presently thought of a Stratagem to fetch them back again. 1840Thirlwall Greece lvii. VII. 261 Antigonus..surprised the victors by a stratagem something like Lysander's at ægos-potami. 1865Livingstone Zambesi ix. 190 Attempting to carry out the skilful plans and stratagems of some eminent leader.
fig.1665Boyle Occas. Refl. Introd. (1848) p. xxxi, In the spiritual Warfare, where our Adversary is the old Serpent, Stratagems are as Lawful as Expedient. 1859Geo. Eliot A. 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.
1599Shakes. Hen. V, iv. viii. 113 Without stratagem, But in plaine shock, and euen play of Battaile. 1717Lady M. W. Montagu Let. to C'tess Mar 30 Jan., The Turks once more attempted to gain it [Raab] by stratagem. 1853Sir H. Douglas Milit. Bridges 200 In the following campaign, by having recourse to stratagem, he succeeded better. 1874Bancroft 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.
1588Marprel. Epist. (Arb.) 38, I doubt not in my visitation, but to get a hundreth of these stratagemes. 1592Kyd Sp. Trag. ii. i. 35, I haue already found a stratageme, To sound the bottome of this doubtfull theame. 1662J. Davies tr. 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. 1728Young Love Fame vi. 187 For her own breakfast she'll project a scheme, Nor take her tea without a stratagem. 1750Johnson Rambler No. 35 ⁋10, I shall not trouble you with a history of the stratagems practised on my judgement. 1830Herschel Stud. Nat. Phil. 2 His existence would be one continued subterfuge or stratagem. 1879Farrar St. Paul (1883) 680 The stratagem was for the time..successful.
b. In generalized sense: Skill in devising expedients; artifice, cunning.
1588Shakes. Tit. A. ii. i. 104 'Tis pollicie and stratageme must doe That you affect. 1737Bracken 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. 1837Thirlwall Greece xxxv. IV. 361 Notorious for his mastery in the arts of stratagem and intrigue. 1872Geo. Eliot Middlem. vi, Obliged to get my coals by stratagem.
†3. Used loosely for: A deed of blood or violence. Obs.
1588Greene Pandosto (1607) G 4 To close up the Comedie with a Tragicall stratageme, he slew himselfe. 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. 1592in 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. 1593Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. v. 89 What Stra[ta]gems? how fell? how Butcherly? Erreoneous, mutinous, and vnnaturall, This deadly quarrell daily doth beget? 1601R. Yarington Two Trag. ii. ii. in Bullen O. Pl. IV, Blood-sucking Avarice, and all the Sinnes, That hale men on to bloodie stratagems. 1606G. 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]. |