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article - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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)”). Doublet of articulus.

article (plural articles)

  1. A piece of nonfiction writing such as a story, report, opinion piece, or entry in a newspaper, magazine, journal, encyclopedia, etc.

    • 2012 March, 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[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

      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.

  4. (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).

    • 2020, Paul Mendez, Rainbow Milk, Dialogue Books (2021), page 118:

      ‘A song called “Freak Like Me” by the Sugababes,’ said Jesse.
      ‘Just Sugababes, no article,’ the man said, enjoying the stunned reaction on Jesse’s face.

  5. 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

  6. Ellipsis of genuine article. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  7. 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, The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy:

      upon each article of human duty

  8. (derogatory, dated) A person; an individual.

    a shrewd article

    • 2001 August 4, Lynne Walker, “Classical: Musical portrait of the artist as a young man”, in The Independent‎[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.

  9. (obsolete, slang) A wench.

    She's a prime article, a devilish good piece, a hell of a goer.

  10. (dated) Subject matter; concern.
  11. (dated) A distinct part.
  12. (obsolete) A precise point in time; a moment.

    • 1683 July 23 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 13 July 1683]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC:

      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; […]

story, report, or opinion piece

member of a group or class

part of speech that specifies a noun

Translations to be checked

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, “Chapter LIV”, in The Vicar of Morwenstow:

      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.

    • 1948 May and June, “G. A. Sekon”, in Railway Magazine, page 145:

      After educational training at Hayes Grammar School and Hayes College, Mr. Nokes was articled to a Surveyor and Land Agent in 1885, and, at the expiration of his articles, became a partner in the firm.

  2. (obsolete) To accuse or charge by an exhibition of articles or accusations.

    • 1665 April 4 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “March 25th, 1665 (Lady day)”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume IV, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1894, →OCLC, page 381:

      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.

    • 1651, Jer[emy] Taylor, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Francis Ashe […], →OCLC:

      If […] all his errors and follies were articled against him, the man would seem vicious and miserable.

Borrowed from Latin articulus. Compare the inherited doublet artell.

article m (plural articles)

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

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

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)

Borrowed from Latin articulus.

article m (plural articles)

  1. article (a piece of nonfictional writing)

Borrowed from Latin articulus.

article oblique singular, 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)
  • Occasionally used as a feminine noun