SuaviloquyToday’s word

maneuver

Maneuver, Manoeuvre, n.

Etymology: [F. manoeuvre, OF. manuevre, LL. manopera, lit., hand work, manual labor; L.manus hand + opera, fr. opus work. See Manual, Operate, and cf. Mainor, Manure.]

1. Management; dexterous movement; specif., a military or naval evolution, movement, or change of position.

2. Management with address or artful design; adroit proceeding; stratagem.

2 other Webster entries under this spelling

Maneuver, Manoeuvre, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Maneuvered or Manoeuvred; p. pr. & vb. n. Maneuvering (, or Manoeuvring (.]

1. To perform a movement or movements in military or naval tactics; to make changes in position with reference to getting advantage in attack or defense.

2. To manage with address or art; to scheme.

Maneuver, Manoeuvre, v. t.

To change the positions of, as of troops of ships.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for maneuver; he lists it under artifice.

Where he writes about it:

A stratagem or maneuver may be of the good against the bad, as it were a skilful movement of war. — from artifice