"Arts" or "ars" refers to creative or intellectual pursuits that involve skill and imagination. The clue "___ gratia artis" is actually the Latin motto of the MGM film studio, which translates to "art for art's sake" in English. It expresses the idea that art should be created purely for its own intrinsic value and not necessarily for a specific purpose or goal.
Note: The provided meaning of the answer is for the latest New York Times crossword puzzle clue: ___ nova. Explanations are generated by AI and may be inaccurate.