资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Article \Ar"ti*cle\, n. [F., fr. L. articulus, dim. of artus
   joint, akin to Gr. ?, fr. a root ar to join, fit. See {Art},
   n.]
   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. A literary composition, forming an independent portion of
      a magazine, newspaper, or cyclopedia.

   3. 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.

   4. A distinct part. ``Upon each article of human duty.''
      --Paley. ``Each article of time.'' --Habington.

            The articles which compose the blood. --E. Darwin.

   5. 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.

   6. 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.

   7. (Gram.) 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.

   8. (Zo["o]l.) 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.

资料来源 : WordNet®

Articles of Confederation
     n : a written agreement ratified in 1781 by the thirteen
         original states; it provided a legal symbol of their
         union by gave the central government no coercive power
         over the states or their citizens