Străt'a-gem, n.

noun

[Fr. stratagème, Sp. estratagema, It. stratagemma, Lat. strategema, Gr. στρατήγημα, from στρατηγεῖν, to be leader of an army, from στρατηγός. See STRATEGUS.]

Sense 1. An artifice, particularly in war; a plan or scheme for deceiving an enemy.

Sense 2. A trick by which some advantage is intended to be obtained; any artifice.

Those oft are stratagems which errors seem. Pope.