Word of the Day

: May 2, 2010

artifice

noun AHR-tuh-fus

What It Means

1 a : clever or artful skill : ingenuity

b : an ingenious device or expedient

2 a : an artful stratagem : trick

b : false or insincere behavior

artifice in Context

"When it comes to beauty and fashion, it's all about artifice and deception…. We lengthen our lashes, paint our nails and lips … and always and forever are on the lookout for clothes that hide our flaws…." (Ellen Warren, Chicago Tribune, April 1, 2010)

Did You Know?

Do great actors display artifice or art? Sometimes a bit of both. "Artifice" stresses creative skill or intelligence, but also implies a sense of falseness and trickery. "Art" generally rises above such falseness, suggesting instead an unanalyzable creative force. Actors may rely on some of each, but the personae they display in their roles are usually artificial creations. Therein lies a lexical connection between "art" and "artifice." "Artifice" derives from "artificium," Latin for "artifice" (that root also gave English "artificial"). "Artificium" in turn developed from "ars," the Latin root underlying the word "art" (and related terms such as "artist" and "artisan").