1. (n.) A combination of things connected and adjusted by design; a system.

2. (n.) A plan or theory something to be done; a design; a project; as, to form a scheme.

3. (n.) Any lineal or mathematical diagram; an outline.

4. (n.) A representation of the aspects of the celestial bodies for any moment or at a given event.

5. (v. t.) To make a scheme of; to plan; to design; to project; to plot.

6. (v. i.) To form a scheme or schemes.

Byzantine intrigues action anagnorisis angle approach architectonics architecture argument arrangement art artful dodge artifice atmosphere attack background backstairs influence bag of tricks blind blueprint blueprinting bluff bosey brew cabal calculate calculation catalog catalogue raisonne catastrophe catch characterization chart charting chicanery chouse collude collusion color complication complicity complot conception concoct confederacy connections connivance connive conspiracy conspire continuity contrivance contrive contriving cook up countermine counterplot coup course of action covin craft curve curve-ball cute trick deals deceit deep-laid plot denouement design development device devise diagram dirty deal dirty trick disposition dodge draft drawing engineer engineering enterprise envisagement episode expedient exposition fable fakement falling action fast deal feint fetch ficelle figuring finagle finagling finesse fix foresight forethink forethought formulate frame frame up frame-up gambit game game plan games gerrymander gimmick googly graph graphing grift ground plan guidelines hatch hatch a plot hatch up hocus-pocus idea incident influence peddling intention intrigue intrigues jockey joker juggle jugglery knavery lay a plot layout line lineup little game lobbying lobbyism local color long-range plan machinate machination maneuver maneuvering manipulate manipulation map mapping master plan method methodology mood motif move movement mythos operate operations research order ordering organization organize outline pack pack the deal pass pattern peripeteia plan planning planning function play games plot plotting ploy ploys practice prearrange prearrangement preconcert preconsider precontrive predesign predetermine premeditate preorder preresolve presentation procedure program program of action project projection proposal proposition pull strings racket rationalization recognition red herring rig rigging rising action ropes ruse scenario schedule schema schematic schematism schematization scheme of arrangement schemery schemes scheming scurvy trick secondary plot set up setup sew up shift slant sleight sleight of hand sleight-of-hand trick stack the cards story stratagem strategic plan strategy strings structure subject subplot subterfuge suggestion switch system systematization table table of contents tactic tactical plan tactics technique the big picture the picture thematic development theme tone topic trick trickery twist