prestidigitation
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prestidigitation
First recorded in 1840–45; from French preste “nimble” (from Italian presto ) + Latin digit(us) “finger” + French -ation; or perhaps based on prestigiateur “juggler, conjurer,” derivative of Latin praestīgiae “juggler's tricks”; see presto, prestige, digit, -ation
Explanation
Prestidigitation is the process of doing a magic trick by hand, also called "sleight of hand." Do you see digits in prestidigitation? Digits are your fingers, so someone skilled at prestidigitation has some tricky fingers. One of the most famous prestidigitators in modern history was Howard Thurston, especially known for card tricks. In his most famous trick, audience members would pick cards from a deck. Thurston would place the deck in a glass on stage, and then he would make the chosen cards rise from the glass while he was still in the audience. That's impressive prestidigitation!
Vocabulary lists containing prestidigitation
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Smoke and Mirrors: The Lingo of Illusion and Deception
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Some Latin-based Words
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Still, the biggest act of prestidigitation is yet to come, and actually occurs after Pence provides his proof texts.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2023
We may never see a more masterful display of constitutional prestidigitation.
From Slate ● Jun. 17, 2021
If cooking involves a mastery of prestidigitation — for which Mauro has the hands, “a worker’s hands and an artist’s hands” — it also requires the adoption of a new vocabulary, “a foreign tongue.”
From New York Times ● May 21, 2019
Calder’s carefully balanced mobiles floating on gentle breezes and the whirling, carnival-style prestidigitation of Duchamp’s optical Rotoreliefs bear scant resemblance to each other.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2017
Its loftiest hopes, its deepest consolations are the offspring of clumsy jugglery and cheap prestidigitation!
From Continental Monthly , Vol. 5, No. 6, June, 1864 Devoted to Literature and National Policy by Various
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
