Art″ful (�), a. [From Art.] 1. Performed with, or characterized by, art or skill. “Artful strains.” “Artful terms.” Milton.
2. Artificial; imitative. Addison.
3. Using or exhibiting much art, skill, or contrivance; dexterous; skillful.
He 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.
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.