subterfuge etymology

Etymology

• French, from Latin subterfugio, from subter (below) + fugio (to flee)

Meaning

• Noun: A trick or deception used to evade or conceal something.

Origin

The word "subterfuge" first appeared in English in the 16th century. It is derived from the Latin word "subterfugio," which literally means "to flee beneath." The term was originally used to describe a military tactic in which soldiers would retreat or hide from an enemy. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to include any type of trick or deception.

Examples

• "His words were full of subterfuge, and I couldn't trust anything he said."
• "The politician used a variety of subterfuges to avoid answering difficult questions."
• "I knew that he was up to no good, but I couldn't prove it because he was always using subterfuges."

subterfuge relate terms

• fugitive

  Etymology From Middle English fugityf fugitive runaway from Latin fugitivus fugiti

• hypo

  Etymology The word hypo comes from the Greek word hypo which means under or bel

• suggest

  Etymology The word etymology comes from the Greek words étymon true meaning and l

• suspect

  Etymology The word suspect is derived from the Latin word suspectus meaning distru

• subject

  Etymology The word subject derives from the Late Latin subjectus meaning placed und

• blind

  Etymology The word blind comes from the Old English word blind which ultimately der

• calumny

  Etymology Middle English calumnie from Old French calumnie from Latin calumnia from

• deceit

  Etymology The word deceit originates from the Old French word deceit which in turn c

• deception

  Etymology Old French decepcion 13th century Latin deceptio act of deceiving decept

• breakfast

  Etymology The word breakfast originated in the early 15th century Middle English term

• superficial

  Etymology Latin superficialis super above on top of ficies surface Mean

• guilt

  Etymology Old English gylt crime sin Proto Germanic gultiz debt guilt Proto Indo

• cynic

  Etymology The word cynic comes from the Greek word κυνικός kunikos which me

• exile

  Etymology Latin exsilium exile banishment Proto Indo European eks s il out