I. Subst.
A. 1.. One that is master in the liberal arts (while opifex is a master in the artes sordidae; cf. ars, I. B. 1.), an artist, artificer: “illi artifices corporis simulacra ignotis nota faciebant,” Cic. Fam. 5, 12: “reponendarum (tegularum) nemo artifex (i. e. architectus) inire rationem potuit,” Liv. 42, 3: “in armamentario multis talium operum (sc. tormentorum) artificibus de industriā inclusis,” id. 29, 35: “ut aiunt in Graecis artificibus eos auloedos esse, qui citharoedi fieri non potuerint, sic, etc.,” Cic. Mur. 13, 29; cf. Ov. M. 11, 169 al.: “artifices scaenici,” Cic. Arch. 5, 10; id. Quinct. 25; Suet. Caes. 84: “artifex lignorum,” a carpenter, Vulg. 2 Reg. 5, 11; so, “artifex lignarius,” ib. Isa. 44, 13: “artifices lapidum,” masons, ib. 2 Reg. 5, 11: “artifex aerarius,” a worker in bronze, ib. 3 Reg. 7, 14 (often thus used in Vulg. for opifex).—Also absol.: “artifex,” Plaut. Am. prol. 70: “multi artifices ex Graeciā venerunt,” Liv. 39, 22; so id. 5, 1; 5, 7; 5, 2; 41, 20; so Vulg. Exod. 36, 4; ib. Isa. 40, 20; ib. Act. 19, 24 et saep.—So of a charioteer, as in Gr. τεχνίτης: “ne hoc gloriae artificis daretur (auriga standing just before),” Plin. 7, 53, 54, § 186.—Of a physician, Liv. 5, 3. —Of an orator or writer: “Graeci dicendi artifices et doctores,” Cic. de Or. 1, 6, 23: “cum contra talem artificem (sc. Hortensium oratorem) dicturus essem,” id. Quinct. 24 fin.: “politus scriptor atque artifex,” id. Or. 51, 172. —
2. Trop., a master in any thing, in doing any thing, etc.: “artifices ad corrumpendum judicium,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 71: “artifex callidus comparandarum voluptatum,” id. Fin. 2, 35, 116: “Cotta in ambitione artifex,” Q. Cic. Petit. Cons. 12, 47: “serendae in alios invidiae artifex,” Tac. H. 2, 86 al. —
B. A maker, originator, author, contriver: “si pulcher est hic mundus, si probus ejus artifex, etc.,” Cic. Tim. 2: “cujus (civitatis) artifex et conditor (est) Deus,” Vulg. Heb. 11, 10: “artifex omnium natura,” Plin. 2, 1, 1, § 3: “si indocta consuetudo tam est artifex suavitatis,” id. Or. 48, 161: “artificem (sc. malorum) mediis immittam Terea flammis,” Ov. M. 6, 615: “vadit ad artificem dirae Polymestora caedis,” id. ib. 13, 551: “sceleris infandi artifex,” Sen. Agam. 975.—Ironic.: “O artificem probum!” Ter. Phorm. 2, 1, 29.—Also for a sly, cunning contriver, inventor of a thing (cf. ars, II. fin.): “et mihi jam multi crudele canebant Artificis scelus,” Verg. A. 2, 125; 11, 407. —
II. Adj.
A. Act., skilled in a thing; skilful, practised, ingenious, dexterous: “Bomilcar et per homines talis negotii artifices itinera explorat,” Sall. J. 35, 5: “miles decollandi artifex,” Suet. Calig. 32: “artifex faber de silvā,” Vulg. Sap. 13, 11: “tam artifices saltationis,” Suet. Tit. 7.—Also of inanimate things: “artifices Natura manus admovit,” Ov. M. 15, 218: “Tellus artifices ne terat Osca manus,” Prop. 5, 2, 62: “artifex, ut ita dicam, stilus,” Cic. Brut. 25, 95: “mobilitas ignea artifex ad formanda corpora,” Plin. 6, 30, 35, § 187: “vir tam artificis ingenii,” id. 8, 16, 21, § 55 al.—Poet. with inf.: “venter, negatas artifex sequi voces,” Pers. prol. 11.—
B. Pass., skilfully prepared or made, artistic, artificial, ingenious: “quattuor artifices vivida signa boves,” Prop. 3, 29, 8: “tantae tamque artifices argutiae,” Plin. 10, 29, 4, § 85: “artifex dimicatio,” id. 8, 40, 61, § 150: “motus,” Quint. 9, 4, 8: “manus libratur artifici temperamento,” Plin. 12, 25, 54, § “115: artifex vultus,” Pers. 5, 40: “plaga,” Sol. 35 al.—Poet. of a horse, broken, trained, Ov. A. A. 3, 556.
