Dictionary.com

prestidigitation

[ pres-ti-dij-i-tey-shuhn ]
/ ˌprɛs tɪˌdɪdʒ ɪˈteɪ ʃən /
Save This Word!

noun
sleight of hand; legerdemain.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?

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

OTHER WORDS FROM prestidigitation

pres·ti·dig·i·ta·tor, nounpres·ti·dig·i·ta·to·ry [pres-ti-dij-i-tuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], /ˌprɛs tɪˈdɪdʒ ɪ təˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/, pres·ti·dig·i·ta·to·ri·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use prestidigitation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prestidigitation

prestidigitation
/ (ˌprɛstɪˌdɪdʒɪˈteɪʃən) /

noun
another name for sleight of hand

Derived forms of prestidigitation

prestidigitator, noun

Word Origin for prestidigitation

C19: from French: quick-fingeredness, from Latin praestigiae feats of juggling, tricks, probably influenced by French preste nimble, and Latin digitus finger; see prestige
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK