crafts

Noun

craft (countable and uncountable, plural craft or crafts)

1. (obsolete, uncountable) Strength; power; might; force .
   • By the craft of nature.1526, William Bonde, Pylgrimage of Perfection

   Synonyms:

   potence, strength, authority, disposition, force, might, potency, power, virtue

2. Ability, skillfulness, especially skill in making plans and carrying them into execution; dexterity in managing affairs, adroitness, practical cunning; ingenuity in constructing, dexterity .
   • The Cyclôpes were Brontês, Steropês, and Argês,—formidable persons, equally distinguished for strength and for manual craft […]1846, George Grote, A history of Greece

   Synonyms:

   technique, proficiency, ability, aptitude, capacity, capability, competency, competence, cunning, dexterity

3. Cunning, art, skill, or dexterity applied to bad purposes; artifice; guile; subtlety; shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception .
   • […]and the chiefe Priests, and the Scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Mark 14:1

   Synonyms:

   technique, proficiency, ability, aptitude, capacity, capability, competency, competence, cunning, dexterity

4. (obsolete) Occult art, magic .

   Synonyms:

   technique, proficiency, ability, aptitude, capacity, capability, competency, competence, cunning, dexterity

5. (countable, obsolete) A work or product of art .
   1. (collective, obsolete, plural) Handmade items, especially domestic or decorative objects; handicrafts .
      • [Canton] has a large export trade in hand-made crafts, ivory and furniture.1911 January, Timberman

See all 20 meanings of craft