artful

[Eng. art, and -ful.] I. Of persons: Disposed to have recourse to schemes contrived with art; cunning. "While a large party was disposed to make her an idol, she was regarded by her two artjul servants merely as a puppet."- Macaulay : Hist . Eng . , ch. xv. II. Of things : 1. Performed with art. "The last of these was certainly the most easy; but, for the same reason, the least ariful . "-Dryden. 2. Crafty, cunning. the long-delayed and artful revenge of various animals."-Darwin: Descent of Man , pt. L, ch. ii, 3. Artificial as opposed to natural. art-ful-lý, adv . [Eng. artful; -ly.] 1. In a manner to evince art; in an artful manner; craftily. 2. By the operation of art, as opposed to naturally; by the operation of nature. "He knows indeed that, whether dre 'd or rude, Wild without art, or artfully subdued." Cowper: Retirement. [Eng. artful ; -ne .] The quality of being artful. * 1. Skill. art-fül-ne , s. "Consider with how much artfulne his bulk and situation is contrived, to have just matter to draw round him these rua y bodies."-Cheyne. 2. Cunning. (Johnson.)