Antonyms for artifice


Grammar : Noun
Spell : ahr-tuh-fis
Phonetic Transcription : ˈɑr tə fɪs


Definition of artifice

Origin :
  • 1530s, "workmanship, the making of anything by craft or skill," from Middle French artifice "skill, cunning" (14c.), from Latin artificium "a profession, trade, employment, craft; making by art," from artifex (genitive artificis) "craftsman, artist," from ars "art" (see art (n.)) + facere "do" (see factitious). Meaning "device, trick" (the usual modern sense) is from 1650s.
  • noun hoax; clever act
  • noun cunning; deception
  • noun skill, cleverness
Example sentences :
  • The artifice was too palpable to escape Rotha's observation.
  • Extract from : « The Shadow of a Crime » by Hall Caine
  • They held the secret of artifice in metals and gems; they were architects and sculptors.
  • Extract from : « Italy, the Magic Land » by Lilian Whiting
  • Jeff had been summoned, and Esther met him with no pretence at an artifice of coolness.
  • Extract from : « The Prisoner » by Alice Brown
  • There was not an artifice I did not practise to cure myself of this baleful infatuation.
  • Extract from : « Gerald Fitzgerald » by Charles James Lever
  • The latter then resorted to artifice, seeing that force was unavailing.
  • Extract from : « Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII No. 1 January 1848 » by Various
  • But he was human in other ways, too, and this became apparent because he was not capable of artifice.
  • Extract from : « A Set of Six » by Joseph Conrad
  • You 'd give a lad to the Jesuits, then, to be trained up in every artifice and distrust?
  • Extract from : « The Fortunes Of Glencore » by Charles James Lever
  • But he was human in other ways, too, and they were apparent because he was not capable of artifice.
  • Extract from : « The Point Of Honor » by Joseph Conrad
  • And why will you obscure the Glory of your Life, by an Artifice unworthy of you?
  • Extract from : « The Works of Aphra Behn » by Aphra Behn
  • Laverna was the presiding goddess of thieves, and of all artifice and fraud.
  • Extract from : « Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome » by E.M. Berens

Synonyms for artifice

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019