Artful
/ˈɑːrt.fəl/noun
Clever or skillful, especially in a cunning or sly way.
Did you know?The word 'artful' originally implied a sense of craftiness, often associated with deception or trickery, echoing the notion of art as a manipulation of reality.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ar-
“to fit together or join, suggesting creation or formation.”
Old English
Old English
earf
“skill, power, or ability, implying a mastery of art.”
Middle English
Middle English
artifical
“skilled, crafty, or cunning in making.”
14th Century
Middle English
artful
“cunning, skillful, or cleverly designed.”
Modern English
English
artful
“cleverly skillful, often with a connotation of craftiness.”