GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found one definition 

  1.       

    Artifice , n. [L. artificium, fr. artifex artificer; ars, artis, art + facere to make: cf. F. artifice.]
    1. A handicraft; a trade; art of making. [Obs.]
      1913 Webster
    2. Workmanship; a skillfully contrived work.
      1913 Webster
      The material universe . . . in the artifice of God, the artifice of the best Mechanist.
      Cudworth.

      1913 Webster
    3. Artful or skillful contrivance.
      1913 Webster
      His [Congreve's] plots were constructed without much artifice.
      Craik.

      1913 Webster
    4. Crafty device; an artful, ingenious, or elaborate trick. [Now the usual meaning.]
      1913 Webster
      Those who were conscious of guilt employed numerous artifices for the purpose of averting inquiry.
      Macaulay.

      1913 Webster