The word "artful" is spelled with the letters A, R, T, F, U, and L. It is pronounced /ˈɑːtfəl/ with the stressed syllable being "art" and the final "ful" part being unstressed. The letter "r" is pronounced with a retroflex sound represented by the symbol "ɹ". The letter "t" is pronounced as a voiceless dental stop, while the letter "u" is pronounced as the vowel sound "uh". Overall, the spelling of "artful" accurately represents its pronunciation.
Artful is an adjective that describes someone or something as cleverly skilled in a creative or aesthetic manner. It suggests a high level of artistic proficiency, intention, or inventiveness, often involving a certain level of deceit or cunning.
When applied to individuals, it refers to someone who possesses the ability to create or appreciate art in a skillful or imaginative way. These individuals often display a deep understanding of aesthetics and use their creativity to produce visually appealing or thought-provoking works. They possess the capacity to skillfully arrange elements such as color, form, or composition to evoke emotions or communicate complex ideas.
Artful can also describe someone who is cunning, shrewd, or sly in their actions or manipulations. This aspect of artfulness implies a cleverness or resourcefulness in achieving a desired outcome, often through subtle or crafty means. This use of artful can connote a certain level of clever deception or manipulation, as the individual or their actions display a calculated and strategically crafted approach.
In a broader context, artful can also apply to things or objects that display a creative or aesthetically pleasing quality. This could involve intricate designs, skillful craftsmanship, or a harmonious combination of elements that captivates and pleases the senses.
Overall, artful encompasses a range of meanings that highlight creativity, skill, intention, and a certain level of inventiveness, making it a versatile term used in the context of art, as well as in describing the behavior or qualities of individuals or objects.
Cunning; crafty.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "artful" has a Middle English origin, derived from the Old English term "earfult" or "eorfe", which means "powerful, skillful". The Old English term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "ar-folaz", meaning "having craft or cunning". The word has evolved over time to its current form, retaining its core meaning of skillfulness or cunning in various contexts.