▪ I. article, n.
(ˈɑːtɪk(ə)l)
Also 4–7 articul(e, 5 artycul, artykele, -kle, artikil, 5–6 artycle.
[a. F. article, ad. L. articul-us (which lives on in F. as orteil), dim. of artus joint, f. ar- to join; cf. arm, art.]
I. Literally.
† 1. A joint connecting two parts of the body. Obs.
| 1541 R. Copland Galyen's Terap. 2 G ij, Woundes of the artycles are Cacoethes and wycked. 1607 Topsell Foure-f. Beasts 745 Their legges are without Articles. 1643 J. Steer tr. Exp. Chyr. iv. 11 The Nerves and Articuls. 1693 W. Robertson Phraseol. Gen. 139 An Article, or joynt, of the body or bones thereof. |
II. Of time.
2. a. A nick of time which joins two successive periods, a juncture, a moment; the very moment, the critical point or moment.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. ii. xx. (1495) 47 They ben not suffysaunt to the artycle of temptacyon. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W.) i. ii. (1506) 9 Conferme the holy baptem in the artycle of necessyte. 1634 Habington Castara 44 And each article of time Her pure thoughts to heaven flie. 1665–6 Phil. Trans. I. 348 Very thick Exhalations..in the Article of the Setting of the Sun. 1709 Let. in W. Peek Axholme (1815) 207 Pulled him out, just in the article of time that the roof fill in. 1722 Wollaston Relig. Nat. v. 99 An infirm building, just in the article of falling. |
b. esp. in article of death.
| ? a 1475 Craft of Deyng 37 (1870) Thai that are in the artykle of ded has vþer temptations. 1483 Caxton Cato F vj b, Euery man ought to haue good hope whan he is in the article of deth. 1512 MS. Reg. Test. Ebor. VIII. 101 b, Seyng the articlys of deth comyng apon me. 1635 Evelyn Diary (1827) I. 11 To the very article of her departure. 1782 Bp. Newton Wks. II. 706 In the article of death he commended his soul to God. 1861 Maine Anc. Law vi. (1876) 207 Roman citizens originally made their Wills only in the article of death. |
III. The separate members or portions of anything written. [Articulus in L. was extended from the joint, to the parts jointed on, limbs, members, ‘joints’ of a finger, etc.; whence transf. to the component parts of discourses, writings, actions.]
3. The separate clauses or statements of the Apostles' Creed; the separate items of any summary of faith; the thirty-nine statements to which those who take orders in the Church of England subscribe.
| c 1230 Ancr. R. 262 Þe articles, þet beoð, ase þauh me seide, þe liðes of ure bileaue. 1340 Ayenb. 11 Þe tuelf Articles of þe Cristene Byleve. a 1400 Relig. Pieces fr. Thornt. MS. (1867) 27 Þe twelue artycles of þe trouthe. a 1420 Hoccleve De Reg. Princ. 384 In alle the articles of the feithe I beleeve as holy writte seithe. 1599 Broughton's Lett. xi. 38 This article He descended into Hell, is but an explication of the former He dyed and was buried. a 1654 Selden Table-T. (R.) A minister should preach according to the articles of religion established in the church where he is. 1692 Locke Toleration i, Articles of Faith (as they are called)..cannot be imposed on any Church by the Law of the Land. 1719 Swift To Yng. Clergym. Wks. 1755 II. ii. 17 That you are any where directed in the canons or articles to attempt explaining the mysteries. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) II. iv. i. 172 The six great articles in the faith of Islam. 1862 Brougham Brit. Const. xvii. 272 note, The Church is not even synonymous with the clergy..according to the definition in the Thirty-nine Articles. 1865 Bushnell Vicar. Sacr. Introd. (1868) 31 Will some one undertake to give us Othello by dogmatic article? |
4. a. A separate clause or provision of a statute; an enactment, or act. [Common in med. (English) L., as in the Articuli Cleri, Articuli Coronæ.]
| [1315 Act 9 Edw. II, Articuli Cleri, made at Lincolne.] 1523 Fitzherb. Surv. j, This statute..wherin is contayned many and dyuers chapiters and artycles. 1547 Act 1 Edw. VI, xii, The statute made for the abolishment of diuersity of opinions, in certaine articles concerning Christiane Religion commonly called the vi articles. 1637 Decree Star Chamb. viii. in Milton's Areop. (Arb.) 13 Books, Ballads..printed contrary to this Article. 1711 C. M. Let. to Curat 5 The Famous act of the six articles in the Year, 1539. |
b. Sc. Hist. Lords of the Articles: a standing committee of the Scottish Parliament, who drafted and prepared the measures submitted to the House.
| 1483 Act 13 Jas. III (1597) §95 The Lordes of the Articles thinkis expedient, etc. 1827 Hallam Const. Hist. (1876) III. xvii. 308 From the reign of James IV the lords of articles are regularly named in the records of every parliament. a 1862 Buckle Civilis. (1869) III. ii. 71 The Lords of the Articles whose business it was to digest the measures to be brought before Parliament. |
c. the Articles of War: regulations made for the government of the military and naval forces of Great Britain and the United States.
| 1716 Lond. Gaz. mmmmmccccxlvi/10 All having had the Articles of War read to them. 1748 in Beatson Nav. & Mil. Mem. (1790) I. 385 The Court unanimously agree, that Rear-Admiral Knowles falls under part of the fourteenth article of war. 1844 Regul. & Ord. Army 141 The Articles of War are to be read once in every Three Months to the Officers and Men. 1863 Cox Inst. Eng. Govt. ii. ii. 322 The Mutiny Act proceeds to authorize the Crown to make articles of war. |
5. Each of the distinct charges, or counts, of an accusation or indictment; in pl. an indictment drawn up in articles.
| 1413 Lydg. Pylgr. Sowle i. xiv. 11, I shold..answere to these artycles of myn accusement. 1553–87 Foxe A. & M. III. 140 And charge him with what articles they lusted. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, iv. i. 243 My Lord dispatch, reade o're these Articles. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. ii. §1 Anytus..laid it as an article of charge..against him, that, etc. 1649 Selden Laws of Eng. ii. iii. (1739) 20 A trick of a new kind of Trial..by suggestions upon Articles exhibited against any man before the Council-Table. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) VIII. xix. §9. 254 To have any articles to lay to his charge. 1864 Burton Scot Abr. I. i. 17 Certain articles presented against this archbishop. |
6. Each of the distinct heads or points of an agreement or treaty; hence a. in pl. a formal agreement. articles of apprenticeship: terms of agreement between an apprentice and his employer. articles of association: rules, conditions, etc., upon which a commercial agreement is founded.
| 1399 Rich. Redeless iv. 43 To reherse þe articlis and graunte all her askynge. 1475 Bk. Noblesse 14 The articulis of the pease finalle made between both kingis. 1494 Fabyan vi. clxxxix. 192 Amonges other artycles that he bounde theym vnto. 1614 B. Jonson Barth. Fair Introd., I am sent out to you here, with a scrivener, and certain articles drawn out in haste between our author and you. 1732 T. Lediard Sethos II. x. 479 To settle the articles of marriage with him. 1735 Pope Donne Sat. ii. 94 Indentures, Cov'nants, Articles they draw. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones (1775) III. 200 Articles of separation were soon drawn up, and signed between the parties. 1813 Wellington in Gurwood Disp. XI. 94, I have just received the articles of capitulation of the Castle of San Sebastian. 1837 Macready in Rem. II. 80 Construction of the actors' articles of agreement. |
b. sing. (in same sense). arch.
| 1741–3 Wesley Jrnl. (1749) 79 On Monday an Article was drawn, wherein he agreed to put me in possession on Thursday. 1786 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) II. 18 To prepare an article defining the extent of the powers over commerce. |
c. pl. Terms, conditions. arch. Cf. article v. 5.
| 1650 T. B. Worcester's Apoph. 101 You are all offered large Articles for your selves. 1659 D'Oyly in Burton Diary (1828) IV. 420 He may sue his articles. 1685 Lond. Gaz. mmlxxv/2 Caschaw has surrendred upon Articles. 1727 Arbuthnot John Bull (1755) 51 The matter was concluded, and Peg taken into the house upon certain articles. 1761 Smollett Gil Blas v. i. (1802) II. 123 An actress enters into articles with a rich gallant. |
† d. in horse-racing. Clerk of the Articles = clerk of the course. Obs.
| 1697 Lond. Gaz. mmmcccxxiii/4 Any Person may enter his Horse with the Clerk of the Articles till the 29th Instant. 1706 Ibid. mmmmccxix/4 To be governed by the Articles of the Race. |
† 7. A clause in a will; a legacy. Obs.
| 1480 Bury Wills (1850) 57 Wyllyng the seid will in eueri article to take pleyn effecte. Ibid. 60 Contrarie to the entent of this myn articule and laste will. 1761 Smollett Gil Blas ii. ii, Besides her residue under the will, she had some snug little articles. |
8. gen. A paragraph, section, or distinct item of any document.
| c 1430 Freemasonry 87 The furste artycul of thys gemetry. 1505 Instruc. Hen. VII to Ambassadors in Facsim. Nat. MSS. I. 66 Item, to note welle hir ies, &c.—As to thys articule, the ies of the saide Quyne be of colore browne. 1555 Fardle Facions App. 349 The ten articles of the lawe, whiche we commenly calle the .x. commandementes. 1675 Baxter Cath. Theol. ii. i. 124 This belongeth to the next Article though here you anticipate it. 1732 Arbuthnot Rules of Diet 261 All the Substances mentioned in the foregoing Article. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. xx. (1827) IX. 1 This 20th book contains 3 articles. Mod. Every Main word in this Dictionary is treated in a separate article. |
9. A literary composition forming materially part of a journal, magazine, encyclopædia, or other collection, but treating a specific topic distinctly and independently. (Here the idea of a section or part of the book, is quite subordinated to that of the independent character of the ‘article.’ It is one of the articles in the paper, as distinguished from the articles of this Dictionary.)
| 1712 Addison Spect. No. 452 ¶5 They read the Advertisements with the same curiosity as the Articles of publick News. 1749 Fielding Tom Jones viii. i, The home articles of a newspaper. 1822 Miss Mitford in L'Estrange Life II. vii. 151 Charles Lamb's articles, signed ‘Elia.’ 1850 Thackeray Pendennis xxx. (1863) 257 Warrington..pointed to one of the leading articles in that Journal. c 1870 Kinglake Crimea I. (ed. 4) Advt. 13 The book..became the subject—not merely of reviews, but also—of what they call ‘articles.’ |
IV. A separate thing (immaterial or material).
† 10. a. A particular piece of business, a matter, business, or concern; a subject. of great article: of great moment, of importance. Obs.
| 1430 Paston Lett. 14. I. 30 Ye are Vicar general in Inggelond of the worthy Prelate..and have hys power in many grete articles. 1602 Shakes. Ham. v. ii. 122, I take him to be a soul of great article. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 428 ¶1 In his Way to Wealth, which is the great Article of Life. 1748 Richardson Clarissa (1811) I. xxxix. 288 To say, there was no article so proper for parents to govern in, as this of marriage. 1767 Fordyce Serm. Yng. Wom. I. vi. 252 Permit me, before I dismiss this article, to offer a hint. 1786 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) I. 549 Gardening..is the article in which it surpasses all the earth. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. Introd. 2 In this article Josephus might be mistaken. |
b. followed by of: The matter of, the particular item of, that which comes under the head of. (Said also of things material.) in the article of: under the head of, so far as concerns, in regard to.
| 1598 Shakes. Merry W. ii. i. 53 Thou shouldst not alter the article of thy Gentry. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 119 ¶2 A very great Revolution that has happen'd in this Article of Good-breeding. 1788 Priestley Lect. Hist. v. li. 389 The very article of making and managing the ships themselves employs a great number of hands. 1805 S. Bourne in Rose Diaries (1860) II. 206 He thinks himself..better, particularly in the article of sleep. 1874 F. Hall in N. Amer. Rev. CXIX. 321 As he views matters, we have been steadily going down hill, in the article of our mother-tongue. |
† 11. An item in an account, list, etc. Obs.
| 1722 De Foe Hist. Plague (1754) 8 The Bills rise high, the Articles of the Fever, Spotted-Fever, and Teeth, began to swell. Ibid. (1756) 112 This was really a dismal Article. 1774 Mrs. Chapone Improv. Mind II. 63 A considerable article in expence is saved by it. |
12. One of the distinct parts or portions of any subject, action, or proceeding (although the latter is not formally divided into items); a piece, a distinct detail, a particular.
| 1741 Middleton Cicero II. xi. 569 An uniformity of character in every article of his conduct. 1760 Sterne Tr. Shandy 209, I have an article of news to tell you. 1785 Cowper Tirocin. 241 If he there be tamed, Or in one article of vice reclaimed. 1817 Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. ii. 374 An important article of the duty of the Supreme Council. 1875 Grindon Life xviii. 227 To encourage love of work is the first article of sensible education. |
13. an article of: a material thing forming part of, or coming under the head of, any class.
| 1823 Rutter Fonthill 50 That superb article of modern luxury. 1827 De Quincey Lessing Wks. XIII. 292 The dress..is brought before us article by article. 1840 Macready Remin. II. 160 Called at several shops and priced various articles of furniture. 1866 G. Macdonald Ann. Q. Neighb. xi. (1878) 215 By the time books..come to be loved as articles of furniture. |
14. a. elliptically (= article of trade, commerce, food, clothing, use, property): A commodity; a piece of goods or property, a chattel, a thing material.
| 1796 Grose Dict. Vulg. Tongue (ed. 3), Articles, breeches: coat, waistcoat, and articles. 1804 J. Grahame Sabbath (1839) 17/2 The immediate consequence would be (to speak in mercantile phrase) a fall in the price of the article. 1819 Byron Juan i. cxliii, Stockings, slippers, brushes, combs..With other articles of ladies fair. 1824 Dibdin Libr. Comp. 421 His folio..is yet a ‘crack-article’ with the knowing. 1829 Carlyle Misc. (1857) I. 269 A superior demand for the article of dramas. 1833 H. Martineau Fr. Wines & Pol. v. 81 If this happened with every article..there would be an end of the cheapness. 1852 M{supc}Culloch Taxation ii. ix. 332 A taxed article, such as soap. 1856 F. Paget Owlet of Owlst. 97 Lady Selina was just the article he wished for. 1859 Lewes Phys. Com. Life I. ii. 102 If..the purpose of food be to sustain the organism, that article which sustains it longest..must be most nutritive of all. 1883 Law Rep., Q. Bench XI. 590 The prosecutor's house was feloniously broken into..and several articles were stolen. Mod. Shopkeeper: ‘The next article, Ma'am?’ |
b. Applied to a person: often derog. Formerly, in the U.S., used of a slave considered as an ‘article’ of merchandise. slang.
| 1811 Lexicon Balatronicum. Article, a wench. A prime article. A handsome girl. She's a prime article (Whip slang), she's a devilish good piece, a hell of a goer. 1837 H. Martineau Society II. 325 The creditors..answered that these young ladies [his ‘quadroon’ nieces] were ‘a first-rate article’. 1844 Dickens Mart. Chuz. xxvi. 320 You're a nice article, to turn sulky on first coming home! 1852 Stowe Uncle Tom i, There's an article now! You might make your fortune on that ar gal in Orleans, any day. 1857 Trollope Three Clerks III. ii. 41 She's the very article for such a man as Peppermint. 1863 L. M. Alcott Hospital Sketches v. 80 Here was a genuine article—no, not the genuine article at all, we must go to Africa for that—but the sort of creatures generations of slavery have made them. 1928 E. Sutton tr. A. Londres's Road to Buenos Ayres iii. 20 Some ‘articles’ are..women from seventeen to twenty years old. 1957 M. K. Joseph I'll Soldier No More (1958) 15 Listen, you sloppy article, who was on guard from twelve to two last night? |
c. Colloq. euphemism for chamber-pot.
| 1922 Joyce Ulysses 715 Pitcher and night article (on the floor, separate). 1932 Statesman (Calcutta) 24 July, A madman..crowned his amusement this morning by bringing an article which he..sat on. 1958 J. Cannan And be a Villain iii. 62 How could he be so rude, she asked, when he said ‘pot’ instead of ‘bedroom article’. |
d. With defining word: applied to something judged to be authentic of its kind, not an imitation or counterfeit, esp. (the) genuine article. Cf. the real thing (real a.2 4 c).
| 1863 [see sense b]. 1864 C. M. Yonge Trial II. iv. 82, I should think so! Genuine article—no mistake. 1913 A. Bennett Regent i. vi. 161 Mr. Rollo Wrissell belonged to one of the seven great families which once governed..England... Edward Henry breathed to himself, ‘This is the genuine article.’ 1919 D. Ashford Young Visiters (1951) v. 34 His mother was a decent family called Hyssops of the Glen so you see he is not so bad and desireus of being the correct article. 1922 Joyce Ulysses 643 Education (the genuine article). |
V. In Arithmetic.
† 15. The number 10; each of the tens, or round numbers between units (or digits) and hundreds.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xix. cxxiii. 923 (1495) Eche symple nombre byneth ten is Digitus and ten is the fyrst Articulus, and the nexte is twenty. 1543 Recorde Gr. Arts (1640) 219 This is true both of Digits and Articles. 1594 Blundevil Exerc. i. i. 2 Article is any number ending in a Cypher, as 10 is one Article, 20 is two Articles. 1751 Chambers Cycl., Article, in arithmetic, signifies the number 10, or any number justly divisible into ten parts. |
VI. In Grammar.
16. A name for the adjectives the (Definite Article) and a, an (Indefinite Article), and their equivalents in other languages, sometimes considered to form a distinct Part of Speech.
In this sense representing the L. articulus, a term used in Latin as early as the time of Quintilian as a transl. of the Gr. ἄρθρον, to denote the Gr. ὁ, ἡ, τό = the. The inclusion of a and its equivalents belongs to the grammar of the modern languages. Palsgrave (1530) makes two articles in Fr., ung and le, but he does not seem to know the terms Definite and Indefinite—which were possibly taken (in a new sense) from the language of the ancient Stoic grammarians who (using ἄρθρα to denote the pronouns) distinguished between ἄρθρα ὡρισµένα or Definite articles, and ἄρθρα ἀοριστώδη or Indefinite articles; the former being with them our personal pronouns, the latter the other pronouns and demonstratives including the art. ὁ, ἡ, τό = the. The exact sense in which ἄρθρον was first used in grammar is uncertain. (I. Bywater.)
| 1530 Palsgr. Introd. 14 Besydes the viii partes of speche commen betwene them and the latines..they have also a nynth part of reason whiche I call article, borrowyng the name of the Grekes. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 450/2 This worde, that, putteth Tyndall for the article, the. a 1637 B. Jonson Eng. Gram. Wks. 1859. 778 We add a ninth [part of speech], which is the article: and that is two-fold; Finite..the; Infinite..a. 1711 J. Greenwood Eng. Gram. 62 There are two articles, a and the. These are really Nouns Adjective, and are used almost after the same Manner as other Adjectives. Therefore I have not made the Article (as some have done) a distinct Part of Speech. 1867 N. & Q. Ser. iii. XI. 52/1 Sir William Davenant contrived to write a poem ‘the London Vacation’ almost without the use of Articles. |
▪ II. article, v.
(ˈɑːtɪk(ə)l)
5–6 articule, artycule, -cle.
[f. prec.]
† 1. trans. To formulate in articles, particularize, specify; with clause, To state that. Obs.
| c 1450 Paper Roll in 3rd Rep. R. Com. Hist. MSS. 279/1 The seid duke articled that after that he was come oute of prisone into England..he went to Caleys. 1494 Fabyan vii. 567 It shuld haue ben set out and articuled, euery act therof. a 1581 Campion Hist. Irel. ii. x. (1633) 135 Lay your heads together, and article the points. 1592 Warner Alb. Eng. viii. xli, And daerst thou Minion, quoth the Queene, thus article to me That thou wert Non-plus. |
2. To set forth (offences) in articles against (a person).
| 1494 Fabyan Rich. II, an. 1388 (R.) These iniuryes and many moo..were artyculed agayne hym in .xxxviii. sundry artycles. 1650 Jer. Taylor Holy Living (1727) 92 All his errors and follies were articled against him. a 1700 Mem. Col. Hutchinson (1848) 211 They would article against him whatever they could accuse him of. 1883 Law Rep., Probate VIII. 196 The offences articled against him were committed whilst he was incumbent of St. Alban's, Holborn. |
3. absol. To bring charges, make specific accusations against. (Also with compound passive.)
| 1530 Palsgr. 437/1 He hath artycled agaynst you other wyse than you wene of. 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xxii. 56 The Lords..began forthwith to enuy and article against the Protector. 1648 Prynne Plea for Lords 41 They were..articled against, at the command of the the Lords. 1655 W. Gurnall Chr. in Arm. i. §3 (1669) 62/1 He is a bold man sure that dare find fault with God, and article against Heaven. 1697 Snake in Grass 254 John Story, Wilkinson, etc. were..Articl'd against for so much as allowing Liberty of Conscience to any Quaker to Pay Tythes. |
4. trans. To indict, charge with specific offences.
| a 1604 Hanmer Chron. Irel. 167 Articling, accusing, and disgracing one another. 1868 Times 30 Apr. 12/6 The defendant..had been articled for an ecclesiastical offence. |
† 5. To arrange by treaty, or stipulations. a. trans. Obs.
| 1447–8 J. Shillingford Lett. (1871) 97 After the manner and fourme that the saide Mayer and Commenalte have articled. 1580 North Plutarch (1676) 124 In which parly it was articled, that the Romans should pay a thousand pound weight of gold. 1600 Holland Livy 1014 (R.) Antiochus himselfe, with whom Scipio had articled peace and alliance. 1682 W. Evats Grotius' War & Peace 93 It was..Articled between the Kings..that the Egyptians should not come into that Sea with any long Ship. |
† b. intr. or with subord. clause or inf. Obs.
| 1526 Wolsey in Strype Eccl. Mem. I. v. 65 The King of England articled to make war upon the Emperors. 1627 May Lucan iv. 260 Whilest we are articling Basely about thy safety. 1705 J. Logan in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem. X. 55 The only secure way will be to article positively. 1762 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Paint. (1786) I. 51 Another indenture of 1338..articles, that the workman should have six-pence a foot for white glass. |
† c. const. with (a person). Obs.
| 1611 Beaum. & Fl. Philaster iv. 33 He Articles with the gods. 1639 W. Cartwright Royall Slave v. iii, Must we be articled with by our women? 1645 Symonds Diary (1859) 278 The governour for his owne security had articled with the enemy. a 1705 Howe Self-ded. Wks. 1810 I. 480 God is pleased to article with dust and ashes. 1764 Wesley Wks. (1872) XII. 243, I will article with them to do so. |
† d. const. for (a thing). Obs.
| 1656 Bramhall Replic. ii. 94 They articled for the free exercise of the Greek Religion. 1770 Langhorne Plutarch's Lives (1879) I. 491/1 Pausanias wanted a truce, that he might article for the dead. |
6. trans. To bind by articles of apprenticeship.
| 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 161 Their brother too, who had been articled to an attorney. |
7. To furnish with articles (of faith). rare.
| 1826 E. Irving Babylon II. viii. 265 And the doctrines by which our fathers articled the Church, are become unapproachably high. |