Etymology Dictionary

ART (1),   2 p. s. pres. of the verb substantive.  (E.)   O. Northumbrian arð, later art; A. S. eart.   The ar- stands for as-, from ✔AS, to be; and the -t, O. Northumb. -ð, is the initial letter of ð-u, i.e. thou.   See further under Are.

ART (2),   skill, contrivance, method.  (F.,—L.)   M.E. art, arte; Rob. of Brunne, tr. of P. Langtoft, p. 336; and in Floriz and Blauncheflur, ed. Lumby, l. 521.—O.F. art, skill.—Lat. acc. artem, from, nom. ars, skill.—✔AR, to fit.   Cf. Gk. ἄρτιος, fit, exact, Lat. artus, a limb (lit. joint), &c.; see Fick, i. 493; Curtius, i. 423.   From the same root we have ar-m, the shoulder-joint, hence, the arm; ar-ticulation, i.e. a 'fitting,' ar-ticulate, ar-ticle, ar-ticle, ar-ithmetic.   Der. art-ful, art-ful-ness, art-ist, art-ist-ic, art-ist-ic-al, art-ist-ic-al-ly, art-less, art-less-ly, art-less-ness; also art-ifice, art-illery, art-isan, which are treated of separately.