tactics English · revision 7068

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1626|origins=grc τακτικός}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈtæktɪks/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It represents New Latin [[m|la-new|tactica]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Greek [[m|grc|τακτική|tr=taktikḗ (tékhnē)|t=the art of arrangement]], or tà taktiká, the neuter plural of [[m|grc|τακτικός|tr=taktikós|t=of arrangement, of tactics in war]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from taktós, ordered, from [[m|grc|τάσσω|tr=tássein|t=to arrange, put in order]].^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) Barnhart suggests it is partly a back-formation from the earlier [[tactical]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The art of deploying military or naval forces in battle: 1626, in William Gouge's ''The Dignity of Chivalry''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Figurative and transferred uses, the planning of any action to achieve an end, are from 1763.^(OED 1989) Arrangement in general is a rare obsolete sense of 1650.^(OED 1989) In linguistics, C. F. Hockett's term for the study of how linguistic units are arranged is from 1947.^(OED 1989) [[tactician|alt=Tactician]] is from the 18th century.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1626 – military tactics.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1650 – arrangement (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1763 – figurative use.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1947 – in linguistics.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(used with a plural verb)'' Actions carefully planned to achieve a particular end.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(used with a singular verb)'' The art of directing military forces in battle, as distinct from [[strategy]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[phonotactics]]

+ * [[tactical]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tactic]]

+ * [[tactician]]

+ * [[syntax]]

+ * [[taxonomy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}