manoeuvre
UK[məˈnuːvə]US[məˈnuːvər]
n
A movement or series of moves requiring skill and care.
n
A large-scale military exercise of troops, warships, or other forces.
v
To move or turn something skillfully or carefully.
v
To carefully guide or manipulate a situation to achieve a desired result.
Morpheme Breakdown
man
oeuvre
man
hand
oeuvre
work
Etymology
The word 'manoeuvre' 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, particularly in military contexts like operating siege engines by hand. This literal sense of working with the hands evolved to signify the skilled, tactical movement of troops, emphasizing the dexterity and planning involved. The modern abstract meanings of strategic manipulation or careful movement in any field retain this core idea of guided, skillful action.
Analysis
Structure: man (hand) + oeuvre (work)
'man' from Latin 'manus' (hand), indicating manual operation. 'oeuvre' from Latin 'opera' (work, effort), indicating an act or product of labor.
Examples
The pilot had to manoeuvre the aircraft through the narrow valley.
The army conducted training manoeuvres in the desert.
She managed to manoeuvre the conversation towards the topic of a promotion.