Etymology is the study of the history and origin of words. It comes from the ancient Greek word, "etymologia", which originally meant the study of the true meaning of words (etymon = "true sense" and logia or logos = "word"). A study of the etymology of the word "art" will help tell us the word's linguistic family tree as well as what it meant to people of the distant past. We all have an idea of what art is and isn't but what did the word's ancestor mean when it was being used three thousand years ago? Can we gain any insight by an examination of origins? Ask any person on the street what art means and you'll probably get replies about sculpture, painting, music, dance, writing and countless other creative endeavors. But did the term always imply creativity or the field of fine art? Would anyone today reply with brick layer, dentist or plumber? Acts 17:29 (NIV) 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. The NIV uses the word "skill" but the KJV uses "art" in this verse from Acts of the Apostles. Acts was originally written in Greek and they had no such word called "skill". The actual Greek word in the actual manuscripts where the KJV uses "art" is "techne", pronounced "tek-nay". Perhaps you already see the root of our word for skill - "technique". The Greek word "techne" was used to mean ability to create or make something. It was synonymous with craft, occupation, art, skill, ability, etc. Engravers employed techne or skill. Potters used skill in making pottery. They were skilled in the art of pottery. One who made weapons would need to be very skilled for that art or craft. Hmmm... Arts and crafts sound awfully familiar. The notion of skill and technique applied to both the creation of the merely aesthetic and the grossly mundane. The idea of skill relates directly to a desired outcome and did not rely on creativity as much as it did simple knowledge and physical ability. One could not forge a spear blade without the knowledge and skill. But did art originally mean craft/skill/technique/occupation/ability/etc. and not merely the arts as we know them today? According to www.etymonline.com, the first useage of the word "art" is circa 1225 and it comes from the Old French language which was mostly vulgar (common) Latin. The earlier Latin version was artem, meaning "skill or craft". This had roots in the proto-Indo-European word, "arti" which meant manner or mode of making. This is where we get the word "artisan" and the word arti was possibly in use as early as 3000 to 2500 BCE. The problem of understanding meanings is that they change over time. The only way to uncover the original meanings is to study how the words were used in the literary context. Today, if someone says, "I'm majoring in art.", we have some idea that this person intends to work in the creative fields such as painting, sculpture, music, writing, etc. but it would have elicited a confused reaction in 1225 CE. It would have been the equivalent of saying, "I'm majoring in skill." It would have been meaningless. In fact, it would have been meaningless as late as the 17th century. It wasn't until the eighteenth century that the notion of fine art came into being. The original meaning did not, however, exclude the painters and lute players, the dancers and poets. Even in their crafts, or occupations, they employed skill and technique - which was the primary meaning of the word "art". Sadly, skill is becoming an unnecessary ingredient in today's commercial jungle. Even elephants and turtles are selling their "fine art" on eBay. But perhaps there is still a remnant - those who understand the original meanings and what makes something a timeless classic. Perhaps there are some who still strive for the highest pinnacles and the roads less traveled. Perhaps there are those left who still put quality above quantity. Perhaps...