prestidigitation

[ pres-ti-dij-i-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. sleight of hand; legerdemain.

prestidigitation

/ ˌprɛstɪˌdɪdʒɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. another name for sleight of hand

Derived Forms

• ˌprestiˈdigiˌtator, noun

Other Words From

• presti·digi·tator noun
• pres·ti·dig·i·ta·to·ry [pres-ti-, dij, -i-t, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], presti·digi·ta·tori·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prestidigitation¹

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”; presto, prestige, digit, -ation

Word History and Origins

Origin of prestidigitation¹

C19: from French: quick-fingeredness, from Latin praestigiae feats of juggling, tricks, probably influenced by French preste nimble, and Latin digitus finger; see prestige

Example Sentences

When a publicly traded company splits its stock, it is mainly an act of prestidigitation.

From Quartz

It’s the mathematical equivalent of prestidigitation, aimed at masking an empty argument with complexity.

From Washington Post

It was, all in all, a wondrous feat of prestidigitation, worthy of a Las Vegas magician.

From The Daily Beast

I hope to convince the reader that these things really exist, and are neither illusions nor farces, nor feats of prestidigitation.

From Project Gutenberg

By what religious prestidigitation he had trapped her secret from her must remain a thick mystery now.

From Project Gutenberg

A perfect technic is more than a wonderful power of prestidigitation, or facility in the manipulation of an instrument.

From Project Gutenberg

The other line of argument raises more subtle intellectual issues and is not a mere matter of prestidigitation.

From Project Gutenberg

The Theosophical craze of recent years has had its influence on prestidigitation.

From Project Gutenberg