Definition of: article

(är′ti·kəl) noun
1. A particular object or substance; a material thing or class of things: an article of food; an article for sale.
2. A literary composition forming an independent part of a publication: an article in a newspaper.
3. A definite division; a distinct proposition, statement, or stipulation in a series of such, as in a constitution, an impeachment, or a treaty.
4. A complete item of religious belief; a point of doctrine, especially when forming a part of a statement of religious beliefs: the Thirty-nine Articles.
5. Gram. One of a class of auxiliary words inserted before a noun or a word used as a noun, or, in some languages, prefixed or suffixed to it, to limit or modify it in some way; as, English a, an (indefinite article) and the (definite article).
6. A definite part, as of a system; item; point.
7. Archaic A point of time; exact instant: the article of death.
— v. ·cled, ·cling v.t.
1. To bind by a written contract, as to an attorney for instruction in law; especially, to bind to service: to article a seaman for a voyage.
2. To set forth in articles; specify.
3. To charge specifically; accuse by formal articles.
— v.i.
4. To make accusations: with against. [<F <L articulus, dim. of artus a joint]