Art"ful (#), a. [From Art.]

1.

Performed with, or characterized by, art or skill.

Milton.

2.

Artificial; imitative.

Addison.

3.

Using or exhibiting much art, skill, or contrivance; dexterous; skillful.

He [was] too artful a writer to set down events in exact historical order. Dryden.

4.

Cunning; disposed to cunning indirectness of dealing; crafty; as, an artful boy. [The usual sense.]

Artful in speech, in action, and in mind. Pope.

The artful revenge of various animals. Darwin.

Syn. -- Cunning; skillful; adroit; dexterous; crafty; tricky; deceitful; designing. See Cunning.

© Webster 1913.