Art

n. [Fr. & Pr. art, Lat. ars, artis, orig. skill in joining or fitting, from Gr. ἁρέειν, to join, to fit together; ἀρτύειν, to arrange, prepare.] 1. The employment of means to accomplish some desired end; the adaptation of things in the natural world to the uses of life; the application of knowledge or power to practical purposes. Blest with each grace of nature and of art. Pope. 2. A system of rules serving to facilitate the performance of certain actions; — opposed to science, or to speculative principles; as, the art of building or engraving. ☞ Arts are divided into useful, mechanic, or industrial, and liberal, polite, or fine. The mechanic arts are those in which the hands and body are more concerned than the mind, as in making clothes and utensils. These arts are called trades. The liberal or polite arts are those in which the mind or imagination is chiefly concerned, as poetry, music, and painting. Formerly the term liberal arts was used to denote the sciences and philosophy, or the circle of academical education; hence, degrees in the arts; master and bachelor of arts. In America, literature and the elegant arts must grow up side by side with the coarser plants of daily necessity. Irving.

3. Skill, dexterity, or the power of performing certain actions, acquired by experience, study, or observation; as, a man has the art of managing his business to advantage. “I have as much of this in art as you.” Shak.
4. Cunning; artifice. “Madam, I swear, I use no art at all.” Shak.

Animals practice art when opposed to their superiors in strength. Crabb. Art and part (Scots Law). (a.) An accessory before and after the fact. (b.) A participation in the perpetration of the criminal act; — said to be an abbreviation of the Latin artifex et particeps. Syn. — Science; literature; aptitude; readiness; skill; dexterity; adroitness; contrivance; profession; business; trade; calling; cunning; artifice; deceit; duplicity. See SCIENCE.