'artificious' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'artificiosus', where 'artificium' meant 'craft, skill' and the suffix '-osus' meant 'full of'.

'artificious' passed into Middle English from Latin (via Old French or ecclesiastical Latin influences) as 'artificious' or similar spellings and was used in Early Modern English; over time the form became rare and was largely supplanted by related words such as 'artificial' and 'artful'.

Initially, it meant 'full of skill or craft' or 'made with skill'; over time it came to be used both for 'artificial/contrived' and for 'cunning/skillful', and in modern usage the word is rare or archaic with those senses absorbed by other words.