different between artifice vs malefice

English

Etymology

From Middle French artifice, from Latin artificium.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???(?)t?f?s/

Noun

artifice (countable and uncountable, plural artifices)

1. A crafty but underhanded deception.
2. A trick played out as an ingenious, but artful, ruse.
3. A strategic maneuver that uses some clever means to avoid detection or capture.
4. A tactical move to gain advantage.
5. (archaic) Something made with technical skill; a contrivance.

Translations

Verb

artifice (third-person singular simple present artifices, present participle artificing, simple past and past participle artificed)

1. To construct by means of skill or specialised art

Related terms

• artificial

Further reading

• artifice at OneLook Dictionary Search
• artifice in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• actifier

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin artificium.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a?.ti.fis/

Noun

artifice m (plural artifices)

1. artifice, trick, ploy
2. (literary) device

Derived terms

• artificiel
• feu d'artifice
• sans artifice

Further reading

• “artifice” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Latin

Noun

artifice

1. ablative singular of artifex

English

Etymology

From Latin maleficium: compare French maléfice. See malefactor.

Noun

malefice (plural malefices)

1. (obsolete) An evil deed; artifice; enchantment.

Latin

Adjective

malefice

1. vocative masculine singular of maleficus

References

• malefice in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• malefice in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette