'ARTICLE, n. [L. articulus, a joint, from artus; Gr.]

1. A single clause in a contract, account, system of regulations, treaty, or other writing; a particular separate charge or item, in an account; a term, condition, or stipulation in a contract. In short, a distinct part of a writing, instrument or discourse, consisting of two or more particulars; as, articles of agreement; an account consisting of many articles.
2. A point of faith; a doctrinal point or proposition in theology; as the thirty-nine articles.
3. A distinct part. Upon each article of human duty. – Paley.
4. A particular commodity, or substance; as, an article of merchandise; salt is a necessary article. In common usage, this word is applied to almost every separate substance or material. The articles which compose the blood. – Darwin.
5. A point of time. [Not in use.] – Clarendon.
6. In botany, that part of a stalk or stem, which is between two joints. – Milne.
7. In grammar, an adjective used before nouns, to limit or define their application; as hic, ille, ipse, in Latin; ὁ, ἡ, το, in Greek; the, this, that, in English; le, la, les, in French; il, la, lo, in Italian. The primary use of these adjectives was to convert an indeterminate name into a determinate one; or to limit the application of a common name, to a specific, known, or certain individual. But article being an improper term to express the true signification, I make use of definitive, which see.

To agree by articles; to stipulate. – Donne.

1. To draw up in distinct particulars; as, to article the errors or follies of man. – Taylor.
2. To accuse or charge by an exhibition of articles. “He shall be articled against in the High Court of Admiralty.” Stat. 33 Geo. III.
3. To bind by articles of covenant or stipulation; as, to article an apprentice to a mechanic.

1. A distinct portion of an instrument, discourse, literary work, or any other writing, consisting of two or more particulars, or treating of various topics; as, an article in the Constitution. Hence: A clause in a contract, system of regulations, treaty, or the like; a term, condition, or stipulation in a contract; a concise statement; as, articles of agreement.
2. To formulate in articles; to set forth in distinct particulars.
   
   

   If all his errors and follies were articled against him, the man would seem vicious and miserable.
   Jer. Taylor.

3. To agree by articles; to stipulate; to bargain; to covenant.
   
   
   [R.]

   Then he articled with her that he should go away when he pleased.
   Selden.

4. A literary composition, forming an independent portion of a magazine, newspaper, or cyclopedia.
5. To accuse or charge by an exhibition of articles.
   
   

   He shall be articled against in the high court of admiralty.
   Stat. 33 Geo. III.

6. Subject; matter; concern; distinct.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   A very great revolution that happened in this article of good breeding.
   Addison.

   This last article will hardly be believed.
   De Foe.

7. To bind by articles of covenant or stipulation; as, to article an apprentice to a mechanic.
8. A distinct part.
   
   
   "Upon each article of human duty." Paley. "Each article of time." Habington.

   The articles which compose the blood.
   E. Darwin.

9. A particular one of various things; as, an article of merchandise; salt is a necessary article.
   
   

   They would fight not for articles of faith, but for articles of food.
   Landor.

10. Precise point of time; moment.
    
    
    [Obs. or Archaic]

    This fatal news coming to Hick's Hall upon the article of my Lord Russell's trial, was said to have had no little influence on the jury and all the bench to his prejudice.
    Evelyn.

11. One of the three words, a, an, the, used before nouns to limit or define their application. A (or an) is called the indefinite article, the the definite article.
12. One of the segments of an articulated appendage.
    
    

    Articles of Confederation, the compact which was first made by the original thirteen States of the United States. They were adopted March 1, 1781, and remained the supreme law until March, 1789. -- Articles of impeachment, an instrument which, in cases of impeachment, performs the same office which an indictment does in a common criminal case. -- Articles of war, rules and regulations, fixed by law, for the better government of the army. -- In the article of death [L. in articulo mortis], at the moment of death; in the dying struggle. -- Lords of the articles (Scot. Hist.), a standing committee of the Scottish Parliament to whom was intrusted the drafting and preparation of the acts, or bills for laws. -- The Thirty-nine Articles, statements (thirty-nine in number) of the tenets held by the Church of England.