a. and sb. [a. F. stratégique or ad. Gr. στρατηγικ-ός of or pertaining to a general, f. στρατηγ-ός STRATEGUS.]
A. adj. Of or belonging to strategy; useful or important in regard to strategy.
Strategic point [= F. point stratégique], a position determined as important in a plan of campaign.
1825. J. A. Gilbert, Expos. Princ. Milit. Comb., 3. Strategic movements and manœuvres. Ibid., 67. Choosing a field of battle which has all the advantage of a good strategic position.
1855. Twemlow, Consid. Tactics & Strategy (ed. 2), 172. The importance of strategic reserves.
1861. Jeff. Davis, Message to Confederate Congr., 18 Nov. Our armies were marched into that State to repel the enemy and prevent their occupation of certain strategic points which would have given them great advantages in the contest.
1894. Engineer, 9 March, 199/1. The strategic railway connecting Tientsin with Shan-hai-Kwan.
transf. 1886. H. W. Lucy, Diary Gladstone Parlt., 133. The Sergeant-at-Arms … more than once has had occasion to sally forth from his chair, and by strategic movements interrupt that gentleman’s unauthorised advance towards the table.
B. sb. The strategic art, strategy. a. sing. [= Gr. ἡ στρατηγική (sc. τέχνη).] rare.
1860. Gen. P. Thompson, Audi Alt., III. cxxii. 68. Frederic was the great improver in this which may be called the ‘Strategic of Battle.’
b. pl. [= Gr. τὰ στρατηγικά.]
1852. Fraser’s Mag., XLVI. 88. All the details of sub-marine tactics and strategics.
1853. Stocqueler, Mil. Encycl., s.v. Tactics, Tactics, as distinct from strategics [printed strategies], imply the disposition and formation of troops in presence of an enemy.
1863. Dicey, Federal St., II. 2. At Washington, during the war, every militia officer … considered himself justified in talking about Jomini and Vauban and the science of strategics.
