Outmaneuverings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The acts of skillfully moving or strategizing to gain an advantage over opponents or obstacles in various contexts such as competition, negotiation, or conflict
2. The processes of using clever tactics and quick decisions to surpass or evade rivals by superior planning and action in both physical and mental challenges
3. The instances of outwitting or bypassing adversaries through superior maneuvering or strategy to achieve a goal or gain the upper hand in contests or disputes

Etymology: The core of this word is the Latin phrase "manu operari," meaning "to work by hand." Medieval Latin shortened it to "manuopera," and French turned that into "manoeuvre," which originally referred to manual labor, such as handling a tool or machine. English later borrowed the French form for the planned movement of troops and ships, and the sense broadened from physical handling to any skillful steering of a course of action. The prefix "out-" was added in English to mean "surpassing" or "beyond," so to outmaneuver someone is to do better at this handling than they do. The plural ending "-ings" turns the act into a countable set of such moves, which is why the form usually appears when people are describing several rounds of jockeying in a dispute or contest.

Synonyms: outsmartings, outwittings, outplaying, outfoxings, outstrategizings

Antonyms: being outmaneuvered, being outsmarted, losings