artifice

/'ɑ:tifis/

Thân thiện

The spy used a clever artifice to slip past the guards.

Definition

Noun: 1. A clever trick or scheme intended to deceive or achieve an advantage: An action or device that is cunning, crafty, and often dishonest. 2. (Formal/Literary) Cleverness or skill, especially in inventing or making things: Ingenious or artful skill.

Usage

• As a noun, "artifice" is typically used in formal or literary contexts to describe a deceptive trick or a display of clever ingenuity.
• It often carries a negative connotation of deceit, but can be neutral when referring to skill or craftsmanship.
• Common collocations include:

Examples

1. Referring to a deceptive trick:

   • The spy used every artifice to avoid detection.
   • His claim of innocence was just an artifice to gain our sympathy.
   • The contract was full of legal artifices designed to confuse the signatory.

2. Referring to clever skill or invention (less common):

   • The watchmaker's artifice was evident in the intricate design of the timepiece.
   • The novel is a work of literary artifice, carefully constructed to manipulate the reader's emotions.

Advanced Usage

• "Without artifice": Used to describe someone or something that is genuine, sincere, and not deceptive.
  • She spoke with a refreshing lack of artifice.
• "A mere artifice": Emphasizes that something is only a trick and not real or substantial.
  • Their display of unity was a mere artifice for the cameras.

Variants and Related Words

• Artificial (adj): Made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally; not genuine or sincere. (e.g., ).
• Artificer (n): (Archaic) A skilled craftsman or inventor.

Synonyms

• Trick: A cunning act or scheme intended to deceive.
• Ruse: An action intended to deceive someone; a trick.
• Stratagem: A plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent.
• Subterfuge: Deceit used to achieve one's goal.
• Wile: A deceitful trick.

Antonyms

• Honesty: The quality of being truthful and sincere.
• Candor: The quality of being open and honest.
• Artlessness: The quality of being natural and without deception.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture)

Từ đồng nghĩa

• ruse