English
article
Etymology

From Middle English article, from Old French article, from Latin articulus, from Latin artus, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂értus, from the root *h₂er- ("to join, fit (together)").

Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /ˈɑːtɪkəl/, [ˈɑːtʰɪkʰəɫ]
  • (America) IPA: /ˈɑɹtɪkəl/, /ˈɑɹtəkl̩/, [ˈɑ(ː)ɹɾɨkɫ̩]
Noun

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.
  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.
  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. Short for 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, The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy:
      upon each article of human duty
    • 1794–1796, Erasmus Darwin, Zoonomia; or, The Laws of Organic Life, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC ↗:
      the different articles which compose the blood
  7. (derogatory, dated) A person; an individual.
    a shrewd article
  8. (obsolete, slang) A wench.
    She's a prime article, a devilish good piece, a hell of a goer.
  9. (dated) Subject matter; concern.
    • 1711 July 28 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “TUESDAY, July 17, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 119; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC ↗:
      a very great revolution that happened in this article of good breeding
      The spelling has been modernized.
    • 1722 March, H[enry] F[oe] [pseudonym; Daniel Defoe], A Journal of the Plague Year: […], London: […] E[lizabeth] Nutt […]; J. Roberts […]; A. Dodd […]; and J. Graves […], →OCLC ↗:
      This last article perhaps will hardly be believed.
  10. (dated) A distinct part.
  11. (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 (economist), 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
Related terms Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Verb

article (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
  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:
      […] 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.


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