The definition of an artifice is a skill or craft that is clever but often manipulative or tricky.
(noun)An example of an artifice is the story a con artist uses to convince you to give him your money.
See artifice in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
Origin: OFr < L artificium, craft < artifex, artist, master of a trade < ars, art + facere, do
See artifice in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Origin:
Origin: French
Origin: , from Old French, craftsmanship
Origin: , from Latin artificium
Origin: , from artifex, artific-, craftsman
Origin: : ars, art-, art; see art1
Origin: + -fex, maker; see dhē- in Indo-European roots
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