The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Artifice \Ar"ti*fice\, n. [L. artificium, fr. artifex artificer;
   ars, artis, art + facere to make: cf. F. artifice.]
   1. A handicraft; a trade; art of making. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Workmanship; a skillfully contrived work.
      [1913 Webster]

            The material universe . . . in the artifice of God,
            the artifice of the best Mechanist.   --Cudworth.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Artful or skillful contrivance.
      [1913 Webster]

            His [Congreve's] plots were constructed without much
            artifice.                             --Craik.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Crafty device; an artful, ingenious, or elaborate trick.

   Note: [Now the usual meaning.]
         [1913 Webster]

               Those who were conscious of guilt employed
               numerous artifices for the purpose of averting
               inquiry.                           --Macaulay.
         [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

artifice
    n 1: a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture) [syn:
         ruse, artifice]