ruse Meaning & Definition
What Does Ruse Mean?
As a noun, ruse means A turning or doubling back, especially of animals to get out of the way of hunting dogs. It can also mean An action intended to deceive; a trick. As a verb, it means To deceive or trick using a ruse.
Word Facts for Ruse
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ɹuːz/ |
| Synonyms | artifice and stratagem |
| Plural | ruses |
| Verb forms | ruses, rusing, rused |
Ruse Definition (Noun)
- A turning or doubling back, especially of animals to get out of the way of hunting dogs.
- An action intended to deceive; a trick.
- Cunning, guile, trickery.
Ruse as a Verb
- To deceive or trick using a ruse.
- Of an animal: to turn or double back to elude hunters or their hunting dogs.
Noun
- (by extension) An action intended to deceive; a trick.
Synonyms of Ruse
Ruse synonyms and antonyms →Word Forms & Grammar
ruse (countable and uncountable, plural ruses)
ruse (third-person singular simple present ruses, present participle rusing, simple past and past participle rused)
Words That Rhyme With Ruse
Origin of Ruse
Origin 1: From Middle English rūse (“evasive movements of a pursued animal; circuitous course taken by a hunter to pursue a game animal”), from Old French rëuse, ruse (“evasive movements of a pursued animal; trickery”)[1] (modern French ruse (“trick, ruse; cunning, guile”)), from ruser (“to use cunning, to be crafty, beguile”),[2] possibly from Latin rursus (“backward; on the contrary; again, in return”)[3] or Latin recūsāre, from recūsō (“to decline, refuse; to object to, protest, reject”). Doublet of recuse and rouse in the latter case.
Origin 2: The verb is derived from the noun. Compare Middle French ruser (“to use cunning, to be crafty, beguile”);[4] see further above.
Common Questions About Ruse
Is ruse a noun or a verb?
Ruse is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for ruse?
You can replace ruse with words such as artifice and stratagem. See the full list of ruse synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of ruse?
The plural of ruse is ruses.
What is the past tense of ruse?
The past tense of ruse is rused. The present participle is rusing.