I. ˈär]d.ə̇kəl, ˈȧ], ]tə̇-, -ēk- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin articulus division, part, joint, diminutive of artus joint; akin to Old English eard condition, fate, Middle High German art innate character, nature, Old Norse ein arthr firm, single, Latin art-, ars skill, Greek artyein to arrange, prepare, Sanskrit ṛta fit, right — more at arm
1.
a. : a distinguishable and usually separately marked section (as of a creed, statute, indictment, treaty, legacy, or other writing consisting of two or more such sections)
an article of the constitution
b. : a distinct and separate point, count, charge, or clause
an explanation of the statute in six articles
c. : a condition or stipulation especially in a contract or a creed — often used in plural
sign ship's articles
articles of indenture
articles of faith
d. : a paragraph, section, or other distinct part of a document
mentioned in the next article
e. : a generally short nonfictional prose composition usually forming an independent portion of a publication (as a newspaper, magazine, or encyclopedia)
write an article for a magazine
have you seen the article in the morning newspaper
2. archaic : a particular juncture, point of time, or moment — used especially in the phrase article of death
3.
a. : a particular item of business : matter
a very great revolution that has happened in this article of good breeding — Joseph Addison
b. : a distinct detail or particular (as of an action or proceeding)
each article of human duty — William Paley
4. : any of a usually small set of words or affixes used with substantives (as nouns) to limit, individualize, or give definiteness or indefiniteness to their application (as a, an, the ) — traditionally considered an adjective; compare definite I 3a, indefinite I
5. : a material thing : item , object
articles of diet
scarce articles command high prices
6.
a. : a thing of a particular class or kind as distinct from a thing of another class or kind
this disclaimer to any resemblance between a real cowhand and the Hollywood article — M.C.Boatright
b. : one who is adept or practiced
as a professional gambler was about the slickest article in his line — H.E.Fosdick
c. : person
the second clerk … was a fairly smooth article — Frederick Way
7.
a. obsolete : a joint of the body
b. : an articulated segment of an appendage in arthropods
II. verb
( articled ; articled ; articling -k(ə)liŋ\ ; articles )
Etymology: Middle English articlen, from article, n.
transitive verb
1. archaic
a. : to set forth in distinct particulars : specify
b. : to set forth or charge someone with (offenses)
2.
a. obsolete : to stipulate especially in a treaty
b. : to bind by articles (as of apprenticeship)
articled at seventeen to a well-known London architect — J.D.Beresford
intransitive verb
1. archaic : to bring a particularized charge or accusation
2. archaic : to make an arrangement or agreement : stipulate