article

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English article, from Old French article, from Latin articulus (“a joint, limb, member, part, division, the article in grammar, a point of time”), from Latin artus, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂értus (“that which is fit together; juncture, ordering”), from the root *h₂er- (“to join, fit (together)”).

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

article (plural articles)

  1. A piece of nonfictional writing such as a story, report, opinion piece, or entry in a newspaper, magazine, journal, dictionary, encyclopedia, 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.)
  2. An object, a member of a group or class.
    an article of clothing
    • 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
  3. (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).
  4. A section of a legal document, bylaws, etc. or, in the plural, the entire document seen as a collection of these.
    The Articles of War are a set of regulations […] to govern the conduct of […] military […] forces
  5. A genuine article.
  6. 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.
    • 1785, William Paley, Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy
      upon each article of human duty
    • 1794, Erasmus Darwin, Zoonomia
      the different articles which compose the blood
  7. (derogatory, dated) A person; an individual.
    a shrewd article
    • 2001, August 4, “Lynne Walker”, in Classical: Musical portrait of the artist as a young man‎[1]:
      "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) A wench.
    She's a prime article (whip slang), she's a devilish good piece, a hell of a goer.
  9. (dated) Subject matter; concern.
  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; […]
    • 1634, William Habington, Castara
      each article of time

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

object — see object
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Verb[edit]

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.
    • 1793, Manning of the Navy Act (Statutes of George III 33 c. 66) ¶VIII[2]:
      […] if the Captain of any Merchant ship under convoy shall wilfully disobey Signals […] he shall be liable to be articled against in the High Court of Admiralty […]
  3. To formulate in articles; to set forth in distinct particulars.
    • 1650, Jeremy Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living
      If […] all his errors and follies were articled against him, the man would seem vicious and miserable.

Derived terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]

Anagrams[edit]

Catalan[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Latin articulus. Compare the inherited doublet artell.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

article m (plural articles)

  1. article (a piece of nonfictional writing)
  2. (grammar) article

Derived terms[edit]

Further reading[edit]

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

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

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

article m (plural articles)

  1. article (a piece of nonfictional writing)
  2. (grammar) article
  3. merchandise, sales article
  4. section (of a law)
  5. (dated) joint, articulation
  6. moment (only in the phrase à l'article de la mort)

Derived terms[edit]

Related terms[edit]

Related terms →

Further reading[edit]

Occitan[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Latin articulus.

Pronunciation[edit]

Noun[edit]

article m (plural articles)

  1. article (a piece of nonfictional writing)

Old French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Borrowed from Latin articulus.

Noun[edit]

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[edit]

  • Occasionally used as a feminine noun

Descendants[edit]

  • French: article

References[edit]

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