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   Scheme

   /skēm/

   

   noun

   • 1. a large-scale systematic plan or arrangement for attaining a particular object or putting a particular idea into effect: British "a clever marketing scheme" Similar planprojectplan of actionprogramstrategystratagemgame planenterpriseventuremeasuremovecourse of actionline of actionsystemproceduredesignformularecipedevicetacticcontrivanceproposalpropositionsuggestionideablueprintinformal:wheezelurkarchaic:shift
   • ▪ a secret or underhanded plan; a plot: "police uncovered a scheme to steal paintings worth more than $250,000" Similar plotintrigueconspiracysecret planruseploystratagemmaneuversubterfugemachinationsinformal:gameracketscamdodgeschlenter
   • ▪ a particular ordered system or arrangement: "a classical rhyme scheme" Similar arrangementsystemorganizationconfigurationpatternformatlayoutdispositiontechnical:schema
   • 2. a public housing complex: informal Scottish "the whole scheme is plunged into darkness, bar the light in Victor's house"

   verb

   • 1. make plans, especially in a devious way or with intent to do something illegal or wrong: "he schemed to bring about the collapse of the government"

   Word Origin mid 16th century (denoting a figure of speech): from Latin schema, from Greek (see schema). An early sense was ‘diagram of the position of celestial objects’, giving rise to ‘diagram, outline’, whence the current senses. The unfavorable notion ‘plot’ arose in the mid 18th century.

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • S

     1

   • C

     3

   • H

     4

   • E

     1

   • M

     3

   • E

     1

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