Ar″ti‐fice (�), n. [L. artificium, fr. artifex artificer; ars, artis, art + facere to make: cf. F. artifice.] 1. A handicraft; a trade; art of making.
2. Workmanship; a skillfully contrived work.
The material universe.. in the artifice of God, the artifice of the best Mechanist.
Cudworth.
3. Artful or skillful contrivance.
His plots were constructed without much artifice.
Craik.
4. Crafty device; an artful, ingenious, or elaborate trick.
Those who were conscious of guilt employed numerous artifices for the purpose of averting inquiry.
Macaulay.