ARTFUL • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Artful

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/ˈɑrtfəl/ Listen

adjective

Artful adj.

Performed with, or characterized by, art or skill. (Archaic) "Artful strains." "Artful terms."

Artificial; imitative.

Using or exhibiting much art, skill, or contrivance; dexterous; skillful. "He (was) too artful a writer to set down events in exact historical order."

Cunning; disposed to cunning indirectness of dealing; crafty; as, an artful boy. (The usual sense.) "Artful in speech, in action, and in mind." "The artful revenge of various animals."

Synonyms: Cunning; skillful; adroit; dexterous; crafty; tricky; deceitful; designing. See Cunning.

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Etymology of 'Artful'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Artful" Quotes from Famous Books

... one could. Lor' bless you, the artful devices of some folks is past counting. Now tell me, what sort are the other girls in ...

— Good Luck • L. T. Meade

... various colouring matters which are naturally present in meat and fish, in fruit, legumes and green vegetables are of a delicate and changeable nature and easily affected or destroyed by cooking. Many years ago some artful, if stupid, cook found that green vegetables like peas or spinach, when cooked in a copper pan, by preference a dirty one, showed a far more brilliant colour than the same vegetables cooked in earthenware or iron. The ...

— Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia

... Barere has given of these transactions is studiously confused and grossly dishonest. We think, however, that we can discern, through much falsehood and much artful obscurity, some truths which he labors to conceal. It is clear to us that the government suspected him of what the Italians call a double treason. It was natural that such a suspicion should attach to him. He had, in times not very remote, zealously ...

— Critical and Historical Essays, Volume III (of 3) • Thomas Babington Macaulay

... best I can by you," promised Joe, his generous heart warming to Isom a little in spite of past indignities, and the fact that Joe knew very well the old man's talk was artful pretense. ...

— The Bondboy • George W. (George Washington) Ogden

... regulates both the great and the little in the study of a painter. By this, the first effect of the picture is produced; and as this is performed the spectator, as he walks the gallery, will stop, or pass along. To give a general air of grandeur at first view, all trifling or artful play of little lights or an attention to a variety of tints is to be avoided; a quietness and simplicity must reign over the whole work; to which a breadth of uniform and simple colour will very ...

— Seven Discourses on Art • Joshua Reynolds

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