Artifice
/ˈɑːr.tɪ.fɪs/noun
Clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others.
Did you know?In medieval times, 'artifice' was often linked to sorcery, as it described the clever manipulations used in magical practices to deceive the senses.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
artificium
“Craft or skill, often implying a clever or cunning nature.”
Old French
Old French
artifice
“Cunning or trickery, derived from the Latin term.”
Middle English
Middle English
artifis
“Skill or craft, increasingly associated with deceit.”
Modern English
English
artifice
“A clever contrivance or trick, now commonly implying deception.”