maneuver
UK[məˈnuːvə]US[məˈnuːvər]
n
a movement or series of moves requiring skill and care.
n
a large-scale military exercise.
v
to move or guide something skillfully or carefully.
v
to manipulate a situation to achieve a goal.
Morpheme Breakdown
man
euver
man
hand
euver
work
Etymology
the word 'maneuver' originates from the medieval latin 'manuopera', a compound of 'manus' (hand) and 'opera' (work), literally meaning "hand-work." it entered english via old french 'manoeuvre', initially referring to manual labor or the operation of siege engines by hand. the military sense of a tactical movement, which requires skilled "handling" of troops, became prominent in the 18th century. from this, the meaning broadened to encompass any skillful or clever move, whether physical or strategic, reflecting the core idea of directing action with dexterous control.
Analysis
Structure: man (hand) + euver (work)
man (from latin 'manus', meaning 'hand', serves as the core semantic root); euver (from latin 'operari', meaning 'to work', via old french 'oeuvrer', serves as the action component).
Examples
the driver had to maneuver the truck carefully through the narrow streets.
the army conducted training maneuvers in the desert.
she managed to maneuver herself into a position of influence within the company.