The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Artist \Art"ist\, n. [F. artiste, LL. artista, fr. L. ars. See
   Art, n., and cf. Artiste.]
   1. One who practices some mechanic art or craft; an artisan.
      [Obs.]
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            How to build ships, and dreadful ordnance cast,
            Instruct the articles and reward their. --Waller.
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   2. One who professes and practices an art in which science
      and taste preside over the manual execution.
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   Note: The term is particularly applied to painters,
         sculptors, musicians, engravers, and architects.
         --Elmes.
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   3. One who shows trained skill or rare taste in any manual
      art or occupation. --Pope.
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   4. An artful person; a schemer. [Obs.]
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   Syn: Artisan. See Artisan.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

artist
    n 1: a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and
         imagination [syn: artist, creative person]