In the 16th century, Turkish women could divorce their husbands if the man failed to keep his family’s pot filled with coffee.
SCHEME
outline, schema, scheme
(noun) a schematic or preliminary plan
scheme, strategy
(noun) an elaborate and systematic plan of action
schema, scheme
(noun) an internal representation of the world; an organization of concepts and actions that can be revised by new information about the world
dodge, dodging, scheme
(noun) a statement that evades the question by cleverness or trickery
system, scheme
(noun) a group of independent but interrelated elements comprising a unified whole; “a vast system of production and distribution and consumption keep the country going”
scheme, intrigue, connive
(verb) form intrigues (for) in an underhand manner
scheme
(verb) devise a system or form a scheme for
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
scheme (plural schemes)
A systematic plan of future action.
A plot or secret, devious plan.
An orderly combination of related parts.
A chart or diagram of a system or object.
(mathematics) A type of topological space.
(UK, chiefly, Scotland) A council housing estate.
(rhetoric) An artful deviation from the ordinary arrangement of words.
(astrology) A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies for any moment or at a given event.
(internet) Part of a uniform resource identifier indicating the protocol or other purpose, such as http: or news:.
(UK, pensions) A portfolio of pension plans with related benefits comprising multiple independent members.
Usage notes
In the US, generally has devious connotations, while in the UK, frequently used as a neutral term for projects: “The road is closed due to a pavement-widening scheme.”
Synonyms
• (a systematic plan of future action): blueprint
Verb
scheme (third-person singular simple present schemes, present participle scheming, simple past and past participle schemed)
(intransitive) To plot, or contrive a plan.
(transitive) To plan; to contrive.
Anagrams
• Meches
Proper noun
Scheme
A programming language, one of the two major dialects of Lisp.
Anagrams
• Meches
Source: Wiktionary
Scheme, n. Etym: [L. schema a rhetorical figure, a shape, figure, manner, Gr. sah to be victorious, to endure, to hold out, AS. sige victory, G. sieg. Cf. Epoch, Hectic, School.]
1. A combination of things connected and adjusted by design; a system. The appearance and outward scheme of things. Locke. Such a scheme of things as shall at once take in time and eternity. Atterbury. Arguments . . . sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme of moral philosophy. J. Edwards. The Revolution came and changed his whole scheme of life. Macaulay.
2. A plan or theory something to be done; a design; a project; as, to form a scheme. The stoical scheme of supplying our wants by lopping off our desires, is like cuttig off our feet when we want shoes. Swift.
3. Any lineal or mathematical diagram; an outline. To draw an exact scheme of Constantinople, or a map of France. South.
4. (Astrol.)
Definition: A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies for any moment o at a given event. A blue case, from which was drawn a scheme of nativity. Sir W. Scott.
Syn.
– Plan; project; contrivance; purpose; device; plot.
– Scheme, Plan. Scheme and plan are subordinate to design; they propose modes of carrying our designs into effect. Scheme is the least definite of the two, and lies more in speculation. A plan is drawn out into details with a view to being carried into effect. As schemes are speculative, they often prove visionary; hence the opprobrious use of the words schemer and scheming. Plans, being more practical, are more frequently carried into effect. He forms the well-concerted scheme of mischief; 'T is fixed, 't is done, and both are doomed to death. Rowe. Artists and plans relieved my solemn hours; I founded palaces, and planted bowers. prior.
Scheme, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Schemed; p. pr. & vb. n. Scheming.]
Definition: To make a scheme of; to plan; to design; to project; to plot. That wickedness which schemed, and executed, his destruction. G. Stuart.
Scheme, v. i.
Definition: To form a scheme or schemes.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
24 January 2025
AGITATION
(noun) a state of agitation or turbulent change or development; “the political ferment produced new leadership”; “social unrest”
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