Changes

:I. Opposed to natural.

:I. Opposed to natural.

::1. a. Of a thing: made or constructed by human skill, esp. in imitation of, or as a substitute for, something which is made or occurs naturally; man-made.

::1. a. Of a [[thing]]: made or constructed by [[human]] [[skill]], esp. in imitation of, or as a substitute for, something which is made or occurs naturally; man-made.

::b. Originally: designating a device made to replace a missing or abnormal body part; = PROSTHETIC adj. 2. In later use also: designating a device or machine which performs or assists the function of an organ.  

::b. [[Original]]ly: designating a device made to replace a missing or abnormal [[body]] part; = PROSTHETIC adj. 2. In later use also: designating a device or [[machine]] which performs or assists the function of an organ.  

::c. Designating a man-made object (real or imaginary) that is placed in orbit round a celestial object, in the manner of a natural planet or satellite.

::c. Designating a man-made object ([[real]] or [[imaginary]]) that is placed in orbit round a [[celestial]] object, in the [[manner]] of a natural [[planet]] or satellite.

::2. a. Of a system, situation, etc.: brought about by human skill or intervention; that does not occur or result naturally, spontaneously, or in the expected manner. Also of an act or process: carried out by non-natural means.

::2. a. Of a [[system]], situation, etc.: brought about by human skill or intervention; that does not occur or result naturally, [[spontaneous]]ly, or in the expected manner. Also of an [[act]] or [[process]]: carried out by non-natural means.

:::b. Of a natural phenomenon: produced by or resulting from human skill or design.

:::b. Of a natural [[phenomenon]]: produced by or resulting from human skill or [[design]].

:::c. Physics. Of nuclear transmutation and radioactivity: brought about (as by bombardment with subatomic particles), rather than natural or spontaneous; (of isotopes and elements) resulting from phenomena of this kind, not occurring naturally.

:::c. [[Physics]]. Of nuclear transmutation and radioactivity: brought about (as by bombardment with subatomic particles), rather than natural or spontaneous; (of isotopes and elements) resulting from phenomena of this kind, not occurring naturally.

::3. Not natural or genuine in appearance or manners; affected, pretentious.

::3. Not [[natural]] or genuine in [[appearance]] or manners; affected, pretentious.

::4. a. Contrived or fabricated for a particular purpose, esp. for deception; resulting from artifice; feigned, fictitious. Cf. quot. a1616 at sense A. 2b.

::4. a. Contrived or fabricated for a particular [[purpose]], esp. for deception; resulting from artifice; feigned, fictitious.  

:::b. Contract Bridge. Designating a bid or bidding system used to signal information about a player's hand to his or her partner by means of a prearranged convention.

:::b. Contract Bridge. Designating a bid or bidding system used to signal [[information]] about a player's hand to his or her partner by means of a prearranged convention.

::5. Chiefly Biol. and Taxon. Designating a classification scheme based on characteristics selected primarily for pragmatic reasons, to enable identification and categorization of the things classified, rather than for any correspondence to natural affinities or essential characteristics; relating to such a system. Recorded earliest in artificial system

::5. Chiefly Biol. and Taxon. Designating a classification scheme based on characteristics selected primarily for pragmatic reasons, to enable identification and categorization of the [[things]] classified, rather than for any correspondence to natural affinities or [[essential]] characteristics; relating to such a system. Recorded earliest in artificial system

:II. Of or relating to art or science.

:II. Of or relating to [[art]] or [[science]].

::6. According to the principles of an art or science; scientific, systematic. Now rare except in artificial music, used in translating or referring to the work of the 14th-cent. French poet Eustache Deschamps.

::6. According to the principles of an art or science; scientific, systematic. Now rare except in artificial [[music]], used in translating or referring to the work of the 14th-cent. French poet [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eustache_Deschamps Eustache Deschamps].

::7. Of or designating the practical arts or crafts; (esp. of language) technical. Obs.

::7. Of or designating the [[practical]] arts or crafts; (esp. of [[language]]) technical. Obs.

:III. Displaying art or skill.

:III. Displaying art or skill.

:::b. Of a person: skilled in an art or craft; technically or artistically adept. Obs.

:::b. Of a person: skilled in an art or craft; technically or artistically adept. Obs.

::10. Of workmanship, a method, etc.: displaying technical skill; expert, ingenious. Obs.

::10. Of workmanship, a [[method]], etc.: displaying technical skill; expert, ingenious. Obs.

::11. Logic. Of an argument: relying on sound rational principles as opposed to authority or testimony. Cf. INARTIFICIAL adj. 3. Now hist.  Used only in reference to Ramist logic.

::11. [[Logic]]. Of an [[argument]]: relying on [[sound]] [[rational]] principles as opposed to [[authority]] or testimony. Cf. INARTIFICIAL adj. 3. Now hist.  Used only in reference to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramist Ramist] [[logic]].

::12. Displaying education or training; scholarly. Now rare. In recent use only in reference to quot. a1631).

::12. Displaying [[education]] or [[training]]; [[scholar]]ly. Now rare.  

*B. Noun.

*B. Noun.

::1. With the. That which is artificial. Freq. contrasted with NATURAL n.1 9b.

::1. With the. That which is artificial. Freq. contrasted with NATURAL n.1 9b.

::2. An artificial or man-made thing; a product of artifice. Usu. in pl. Now rare except in specific uses

::2. An artificial or man-made thing; a [[product]] of artifice. Usu. in pl. Now rare except in specific uses

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]