Art"ful (#), a. [From Art.]
1.
Performed with, or characterized by, art or skill.
[Archaic] "
Artful strains." "
Artful terms."
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.