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tac·tics

(tăktĭks)

a. (used with a sing. verb) The study of the most effective ways of securing objectives set by strategy, as in deploying and directing troops, ships, and aircraft against an enemy.

b. (used with a pl. verb) Military actions or maneuvers used against an enemy: Guerrilla tactics were employed during most of the war.

2. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A procedure or set of maneuvers engaged in to achieve an end, an aim, or a goal.

[New Latin tactica, from Greek taktika, matters pertaining to arrangement, or from Greek taktikē (tekhnē), (art) of deploying forces in war, both from taktikos, of order, from taktos, arranged, from tassein, tag-, to arrange.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

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Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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