[ad_1] adjective
- slyly crafty or cunning; deceitful; tricky: artful schemes.
- skillful or clever in adapting means to ends; ingenious: an artful choice of metaphors and similes.
- done with or characterized by art or skill: artful acting; artful repairs.
- Archaic. artificial.
adjective
- cunning or tricky
- skilful in achieving a desired end
- archaic characterized by skill or art
- archaic artificial
1610s, “learned, well-versed in the (liberal) arts,” also “characterized by technical skill,” from art (n.) + -ful. Meaning “skilled in adapting means to ends” is from 1739. Related: Artfully; artfulness.