Outflanked

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Being strategically surrounded or attacked from a side or rear position so as to gain an advantage
2. Having forces maneuvered to approach from the side or rear to catch off guard and gain superiority
3. Experiencing an approach from both flank sides or rear, typically in a military or competitive context to overcome resistance

Etymology: "Outflanked" is the past tense and past participle of "outflank," which combines the prefix "out-" with "flank." The "flank" part is the older and more striking piece: it comes from Old French "flanc," meaning side, and its ultimate root is tied to the idea of the soft side of the body between ribs and hip. In military use, to flank an enemy was to strike at the side of their line, and the prefix "out-" adds the sense of going beyond or past them. The "out-" element traces back to Old English "ūt," meaning outward or away from the inside, which is the same root that gives the modern English word "out." So the verb essentially means to get around the side of someone and come out ahead of them. Its meaning is a literal one, rooted in the geometry of battle lines, and it has carried over into everyday talk about being bested by a rival who moves more cleverly.

Synonyms: outmaneuvered, outsmarted