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Webster 1913 Edition

Article

Ar′ti-cle

,
Noun.
[F., fr. L.
articulus
, dim. of
artus
joint, akin to Gr. [GREEK], fr. a root
ar
to join, fit. See
Art
,
Noun.
]
1.
A distinct portion of an instrument, discourse, literary work, or any other writing, consisting of two or more particulars, or treating of various topics;
as, an
article
in the Constitution
. Hence: A clause in a contract, system of regulations, treaty, or the like; a term, condition, or stipulation in a contract; a concise statement;
as,
articles
of agreement
.
2.
A literary composition, forming an independent portion of a magazine, newspaper, or cyclopedia.
3.
Subject; matter; concern; distinct.
[Obs.]
A very great revolution that happened in this
article
of good breeding.
Addison.
This last
article
will hardly be believed.
De Foe.
4.
A distinct part.
“Upon each article of human duty.”
Paley.
“Each article of time.”
Habington.
The
articles
which compose the blood.
E. Darwin.
5.
A particular one of various things;
as, an
article
of merchandise; salt is a necessary
article
.
They would fight not for articles of faith, but for
articles
of food.
Landor.
6.
Precise point of time; moment.
[Obs. or Archaic]
This fatal news coming to Hick’s Hall upon the
article
of my Lord Russell's trial, was said to have had no little influence on the jury and all the bench to his prejudice.
Evelyn.
7.
(Gram.)
One of the three words, a, an, the, used before nouns to limit or define their application. A (or an) is called the indefinite article, the the definite article.
8.
(Zool.)
One of the segments of an articulated appendage.
Articles of Confederation
,
the compact which was first made by the original thirteen States of the United States. They were adopted March 1, 1781, and remained the supreme law until March, 1789.
–
Articles of impeachment
,
an instrument which, in cases of impeachment, performs the same office which an indictment does in a common criminal case.
–
Articles of war
,
rules and regulations, fixed by law, for the better government of the army.
–
In the article of death
[L.
in articulo mortis
]
,
at the moment of death; in the dying struggle.
–
Lords of the articles
(Scot. Hist.)
,
a standing committee of the Scottish Parliament to whom was intrusted the drafting and preparation of the acts, or bills for laws.
–
The Thirty-nine Articles
,
statements (thirty-nine in number) of the tenets held by the Church of England.

Ar′ti-cle

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Articled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Articling
.]
[Cf. F.
articuler
, fr. L.
articulare
. See
Article
,
Noun.
,
Articulate
.]
1.
To formulate in articles; to set forth in distinct particulars.
If all his errors and follies were
articled
against him, the man would seem vicious and miserable.
Jer. Taylor.
2.
To accuse or charge by an exhibition of articles.
He shall be
articled
against in the high court of admiralty.
Stat. 33 Geo. III.
3.
To bind by articles of covenant or stipulation;
as, to
article
an apprentice to a mechanic
.

Ar′ti-cle

,
Verb.
I.
To agree by articles; to stipulate; to bargain; to covenant.
[R.]
Then he
articled
with her that he should go away when he pleased.
Selden.

Webster 1828 Edition

Article

'ARTICLE

,
Noun.
[L. articulus, a joint, from artus; Gr.]
1.
A single clause in a contract, account system of regulations, treaty, or other writing; a particular separate charge or item, in an account; a term, condition, or stipulation, in a contract. In short, a distinct part of a writing, instrument or discourse, consisting of two or more particulars; as, articles of agreement; an account consisting of many articles.
2.
A point of faith; a doctrinal point or proposition in theology; as the thirty-nine articles.
3.
A distinct part.
Upon each article of human duty.
4.
A particular commodity, or substance; as, an article of merchandise; salt is a necessary article. In common usage, this word is applied to almost every separate substance or material.
The articles which compose the blood.
5.
A point of time. [Not in use.]
6.
In botany, that part of a stalk or stem, which is between two joints.
7.
In grammar, an adjective used before nouns, to limit or define their application; as hic, ille, ipse, in Latin; in Greek; the, this, that, in English. The primary use of these adjectives was to convert an indeterminate name into a determinate one; or to limit the application of a common name, to a specific, known, or certain individual. But article being an improper term to express the true signification, I make use of definitive, which see.

'ARTICLE

, v.t.
1.
To draw up in distinct particulars; as, to article the errors or follies of a man.
2.
To accuse or charge by an exhibition of articles. 'He shall be articled against in the High Court of admiralty.' Stat. 33. George III.
3.
To bind by articles of covenant or stipulation; as, to article an apprentice to a mechanic.

'ARTICLE

,
Verb.
I.
[supra.] To agree by articles; to stipulate.

Definition 2024

article

article

English

Noun

article ‎(plural articles)

  1. A part or segment of something joined to other parts, or, in combination, forming a structured set.
    Each of the chelicerae is composed of two articles, forming a powerful pincer.‎
    The Articles of War are a set of regulations […] to govern the conduct of […] military […] forces‎
    • Paley
      upon each article of human duty
    • Habington
      each article of time
    • E. Darwin
      the articles which compose the blood
  2. A story, report, or opinion piece in a newspaper, magazine, journal, etc.
    • 2012 March 1, Lee A. Groat, “Gemstones”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 128:
      Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are […] . (Common gem materials not addressed in this article include amber, amethyst, chalcedony, garnet, lazurite, malachite, opals, peridot, rhodonite, spinel, tourmaline, turquoise and zircon.)
  3. A member of a group or class.
    an article of clothing‎
  4. An object.
    • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, chapter 12, in The Mirror and the Lamp:
      There were many wooden chairs for the bulk of his visitors, and two wicker armchairs with red cloth cushions for superior people. From the packing-cases had emerged some Indian clubs, […], and all these articles […] made a scattered and untidy decoration that Mrs. Clough assiduously dusted and greatly cherished.
    a sales article‎
  5. (grammar) A part of speech that indicates, specifies and limits a noun (a, an, or the in English). In some languages the article may appear as an ending (e.g. definite article in Swedish) or there may be none (e.g. Russian, Pashto).
  6. A section of a legal document, bylaws, etc.
  7. (derogatory) A person.
    • 2001, August 4, “Lynne Walker”, in Classical: Musical portrait of the artist as a young man:
      "You dateless article," stormed his father, leaving Bennett to realise in his laconic way that he was, and probably always would be, a disappointment to Dad.
  8. (archaic, slang) A wench. A prime article = A handsome girl.
    She's a prime article (whip slang), she's a devilish good piece, a **** of a goer.‎
  9. (dated) Subject matter; concern.
    • Addison
      a very great revolution that happened in this article of good breeding
    • Daniel Defoe
      This last article will hardly be believed.
  10. (dated) A distinct part.
  11. (obsolete) A precise point in time; a moment.
    • 1683, John Evelyn, Diary, 13 July 1683.
      This fatal news coming to Hick's Hall upon the article of my Lord Russell's trial, was said to have had no little influence on the jury and all the bench to his prejudice.
    • 1805, Charles Hall, The Effects of Civilisation on the People in European States, Original Preface:
      […] who has more opportunities of acquiring the knowledge, than a physician? He is admitted into the dwellings of all ranks of people, and into the innermost parts of them; he sees them by their fireside, at their tables, and in their beds; he sees them at work, and at their recreations; he sees them in health, in sickness, and in the article of death; […]

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Verb

article ‎(third-person singular simple present articles, present participle articling, simple past and past participle articled)

  1. (transitive) To bind by articles of apprenticeship.
    to article an apprentice to a mechanic
    • 1876, Sabine Baring-Gould, The Vicar of Morwenstow, Chapter LIV
      When the boy left school at Liskeard, he was articled to a lawyer, Mr. Jacobson, at Plymouth, a wealthy man in good practice, first cousin to his mother; but this sort of profession did not at all approve itself to Robert's taste, and he only remained with Mr. Jacobson a few months.
  2. (obsolete) To accuse or charge by an exhibition of articles or accusations.
    • 1665, Samuel Pepys, Diary, March 1665
      At noon dined alone with Sir W. Batten, where great discourse of Sir W. Pen, Sir W. Batten being, I perceive, quite out of love with him, thinking him too great and too high, and began to talk that the world do question his courage, upon which I told him plainly I have been told that he was articled against for it, and that Sir H. Vane was his great friend therein.
    • Stat. 33 Geo. III
      He shall be articled against in the high court of admiralty.
  3. To formulate in articles; to set forth in distinct particulars.
    • Jeremy Taylor
      If all his errors and follies were articled against him, the man would seem vicious and miserable.

Derived terms

External links

  • article in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • article in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin articulus. Compare the inherited doublet artell.

Noun

article m ‎(plural articles)

  1. (grammar) article

French

Etymology

From Old French article, a borrowing from Latin articulus. Compare the inherited doublet orteil.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /aʁ.tikl/

Noun

article m ‎(plural articles)

  1. article
  2. joint, articulation
  3. (Canada) section (of a law)

Related terms

Old French

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin articulus

Noun

article m ‎(oblique plural articles, nominative singular articles, nominative plural article)

  1. (anatomy) joint; articulation
  2. (religion) article (of faith)
  3. article (clause in a legal document or treaty)

Usage notes

  • Occasionally used as a feminine noun

Descendants

References

Etymology

From Middle English [Term?], from Old French [Term?], from Latin articulus ‎(“a joint, limb, member, part, division, the article in grammar, a point of time”).

Pronunciation

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