prestidigitation

noun

pres·ti·dig·i·ta·tion ˌpre-stə-ˌdi-jə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce prestidigitation (audio)

: sleight of hand, legerdemain

prestidigitator

ˌpre-stə-ˈdi-jə-ˌtā-tər How to pronounce prestidigitation (audio)

noun

Did you know?

The secret to performing magic tricks is all in the hands-or at least, that's what is suggested by the etymologies of prestidigitation and its two synonyms legerdemain and sleight of hand. The French word preste (from Italian presto) means "quick" or "nimble," and the Latin word digitus means "finger." Put them together and-presto!-you've got prestidigitation. Similarly, legerdemain was conjured up from the Middle French phrase leger de main, which translates to "light of hand." The third term, sleight of hand, involves the least etymological hocus-pocus; it simply joins "hand" with sleight, meaning "dexterity."

Example Sentences

Houdini's powers of prestidigitation remain legendary to this very day.

Recent Examples on the Web But the magician must constantly update his tricks as the audience catches on, and new crises reveal the mechanisms behind the prestidigitation.

Justin E. H. Smith, Harper’s Magazine , 25 May 2022 DelGaudio jettisoned most of the trappings of magic shows and used his prestidigitation skills in service of a meditation on identity.

Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2021 Talk about a feat of prestidigitation: Jordan Michelman recently turned water into a James Beard Award.

oregonlive, 3 June 2020 This is not some trick of rhetorical prestidigitation or a leap of logic.

Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 16 Oct. 2019 Crucially, monetary policy oriented around individuals should be easier to understand than the customary prestidigitation.

The Economist, 26 May 2018 His songs might be usefully interpreted through that past of mingled creativity and prestidigitation.

Milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 25 Jan. 2018 Javier Báez, an ebullient infielder whose prestidigitation in the field and thunderous bat helped ignite the Cubs during last year’s playoff, is twenty-four.

David Axelrod, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2017 See More

单词	prestidigitators
释义	prestidigitation noun pres·ti·dig·i·ta·tion ˌpre-stə-ˌdi-jə-ˈtā-shən : sleight of hand, legerdemain prestidigitator ˌpre-stə-ˈdi-jə-ˌtā-tər noun Did you know? The secret to performing magic tricks is all in the hands-or at least, that's what is suggested by the etymologies of prestidigitation and its two synonyms legerdemain and sleight of hand. The French word preste (from Italian presto) means "quick" or "nimble," and the Latin word digitus means "finger." Put them together and-presto!-you've got prestidigitation. Similarly, legerdemain was conjured up from the Middle French phrase leger de main, which translates to "light of hand." The third term, sleight of hand, involves the least etymological hocus-pocus; it simply joins "hand" with sleight, meaning "dexterity." Synonyms conjuring hocus-pocus legerdemain magic See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Houdini's powers of prestidigitation remain legendary to this very day. Recent Examples on the Web But the magician must constantly update his tricks as the audience catches on, and new crises reveal the mechanisms behind the prestidigitation. Justin E. H. Smith, Harper’s Magazine , 25 May 2022 DelGaudio jettisoned most of the trappings of magic shows and used his prestidigitation skills in service of a meditation on identity. Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2021 Talk about a feat of prestidigitation: Jordan Michelman recently turned water into a James Beard Award. oregonlive, 3 June 2020 This is not some trick of rhetorical prestidigitation or a leap of logic. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 16 Oct. 2019 Crucially, monetary policy oriented around individuals should be easier to understand than the customary prestidigitation. The Economist, 26 May 2018 His songs might be usefully interpreted through that past of mingled creativity and prestidigitation. Milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 25 Jan. 2018 Javier Báez, an ebullient infielder whose prestidigitation in the field and thunderous bat helped ignite the Cubs during last year’s playoff, is twenty-four. David Axelrod, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2017 See More Word History Etymology French, from prestidigitateur prestidigitator, from preste nimble, quick (from Italian presto) + Latin digitus finger — more at digit First Known Use 1859, in the meaning defined above prestidigitators noun plural of prestidigitator as in magicians one who practices tricks and illusions for entertainment a skilled prestidigitator can make entire buildings seem to disappear Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance magicians tricksters illusionists conjurers conjurors enchantresses enchanters charmers
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prestidigitation

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

noun