The word "ruse" is spelled as /ruːz/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first sound, /r/, is a voiced alveolar trill where the tongue vibrates rapidly against the alveolar ridge. The second sound, /uː/, is a long vowel sound that is pronounced with rounded lips. The final sound, /z/, is a voiced alveolar fricative where the tongue touches the alveolar ridge and air is forced through a narrow gap. The spelling of "ruse" accurately represents its pronunciation in English.
A ruse is a cunning or deceptive scheme or plan employed to deceive someone or gain an advantage. It is a clever trick or stratagem used to fool or deceive others in order to achieve a particular goal. The primary intention behind a ruse is to mislead or trick someone into believing something that is not true.
A ruse often involves acting or feigning a certain behavior or situation in order to manipulate others. It can be a well thought-out ploy or a carefully designed strategy that appears to be genuine or innocent at first glance. Those who employ ruses intend to exploit the trust or vulnerability of their targets, gaining an upper hand or achieving a specific outcome through deception.
Commonly used in the context of warfare, a ruse is often employed to divert attention, misdirect resources, or lure opponents into a trap. However, ruses can also be found in other scenarios, such as in personal relationships, politics, or business. They rely heavily on the element of surprise and the ability to manipulate the perceptions, emotions, or decisions of others.
Due to its nature, a ruse is associated with negative connotations and is generally considered unethical or dishonest. Its success depends on the target's lack of awareness or inability to see through the deception. Thus, being cautious and skeptical can help individuals avoid falling victim to cleverly planned ruses.
Means employed to deceive; a little artifice or stratagem; a clever trick or stratagem.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "ruse" originated from the Old French term "rus(s)e", which came from the Old French verb "rudier", meaning "to drive away" or "to disperse". It essentially referred to a military strategy of dispersing or distracting the enemy to gain an advantage in battle. Over time, the meaning of the word evolved to encompass any strategic or deceptive ploy employed to trick or deceive someone. The Old French term likely originated from the Latin word "rūrsus", which means "back" or "backward".