Subterfuge

Subterfuge
Subterfuge Sub"ter*fuge, n. [F., from LL. subterfugium, fr. L. subterfugere to flee secretly, to escape; subter under + fugere to flee. See {Fugitive}.] That to which one resorts for escape or concealment; an artifice employed to escape censure or the force of an argument, or to justify opinions or conduct; a shift; an evasion. [1913 Webster]

Affect not little shifts and subterfuges, to avoid the force of an argument. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]

By a miserable subterfuge, they hope to render this position safe by rendering it nugatory. --Burke. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • subterfuge — [ syptɛrfyʒ ] n. m. • 1316; bas lat. subterfugium, de subterfugere « fuir (fugere) en cachette » ♦ Moyen habile et détourné pour échapper à une situation, pour se tirer d embarras. ⇒ détour, échappatoire, faux fuyant. Subterfuges de conscience… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Subterfuge — ist der Name zweier Bands: einer US amerikanischen Hardcore Band: siehe Subterfuge (USA) einer deutschen Band:siehe Subterfuge (Deutschland) Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung zur Unterscheidung mehrerer mit demselben Wort bezeichneter Beg …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • subterfuge — I noun artifice, camouflage, chicane, chicanery, concealment, counterfeit, deception, deverticulum, device, dodge, duplicity, elusion, evasion, excuse, fabrication, falsehood, fib, fiction, finesse, forgery, guise, imposture, jugglery, latebra,… …   Law dictionary

  • subterfuge — 1570s, from M.Fr. subterfuge, from L.L. subterfugium an evasion, from L. subterfugere to evade, escape, flee by stealth, from subter beneath, secretly + fugere flee (see FUGITIVE (Cf. fugitive)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • subterfuge — Subterfuge, Tergiuersatio. Cercher les subterfuges, Tergiuersari, Subterfugere …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • subterfuge — Subterfuge. s. m. Fuite & eschappatoire, en matiere de chicane, ou de dispute. Trouver des subterfuges. chercher des subterfuges. user de subterfuges. il ne manque pas de subterfuges …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • subterfuge — ► NOUN ▪ a trick or deception used in order to achieve one s goal. ORIGIN from Latin subterfugere escape secretly …   English terms dictionary

  • subterfuge — [sub′tər fyo͞oj΄] n. [LL subterfugium < L subterfugere, to flee secretly, escape < subter, secretly (< subter, below) + fugere, to flee: see FUGITIVE] any plan, action, or device used to hide one s true objective, evade a difficult or… …   English World dictionary

  • subterfuge — [[t]sʌ̱btə(r)fjuːʤ[/t]] subterfuges N VAR Subterfuge is a trick or a dishonest way of getting what you want. Most people can see right through that type of subterfuge... The party has predictably rejected the proposals as a subterfuge …   English dictionary

  • subterfuge — n. to resort to, use (a) subterfuge * * * [ sʌbtəfjuːdʒ] use (a) subterfuge to resort to …   Combinatory dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”