Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Maneuver

Maneuver \muh-NOO-ver\ , noun;
1. A planned and regulated movement or evolution of troops, warships, etc.
2. Maneuvers, a series of tactical exercises usually carried out in the field by large bodies of troops in simulating the conditions of war
3. An act or instance of changing the direction of a moving ship, vehicle, etc. as required
4. An adroit move, skillful proceeding, etc., especially as characterized by craftiness; ploy
verb;
1. To change the position of (troops, ships, etc.) by a maneuver
2. To bring, put, drive, or make by maneuvers
3. To manipulate or manage with skill or adroitness
4. To steer in various directions as required
5. To perform a maneuver or maneuvers
6. To scheme; intrigue
British English: manoeuver

Dating to the late 1600's, the origin of maneuver is Middle French manœuvre ("manipulation, maneuver") from Old French manuevre ("manual labor"). The Old French word derives from Middle Latin manopera/manuopera from manuoperare ("work with the hands"), which comes from Latin manu operari. Manu is the ablative of manus ("hand"), which derives from Proto-Indo-European *men- ("hand, to take one's hand") and is the forebear of manual. Operari ("work, labor," later "to have effect, be active, cause") derives from opera ("work, effort"), which is related to opus ("a work"). The definition shift in Middle French comes from when maneuver was used to refer to "action of adjusting a ship's rigging," possibly with negative connotations.

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