prestidigitation

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

/ ˌprɛs tɪˌdɪdʒ ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

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See synonyms for prestidigitation on Thesaurus.com

noun

sleight of hand; legerdemain.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

Words nearby prestidigitation

presswork, prest, prestation, Prester John, presternum, prestidigitation, prestige, prestige pricing, prestigious, prestissimo, prest money

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use prestidigitation in a sentence

When a publicly traded company splits its stock, it is mainly an act of prestidigitation.
Why investors love GameStop’s stock split|Scott Nover|July 21, 2022|Quartz
It’s the mathematical equivalent of prestidigitation, aimed at masking an empty argument with complexity.
How people who should know better abuse math to bolster the ‘election fraud’ lie|Philip Bump|April 12, 2021|Washington Post
It was, all in all, a wondrous feat of prestidigitation, worthy of a Las Vegas magician.
Michelle Obama’s Media Blitz Through ‘The Daily Show,’ ‘The View’ & More|Lloyd Grove|May 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I hope to convince the reader that these things really exist, and are neither illusions nor farces, nor feats of prestidigitation.
Mysterious Psychic Forces|Camille Flammarion

By what religious prestidigitation he had trapped her secret from her must remain a thick mystery now.
V. V.'s Eyes|Henry Sydnor Harrison
A perfect technic is more than a wonderful power of prestidigitation, or facility in the manipulation of an instrument.
Memories of a Musical Life|William Mason
The other line of argument raises more subtle intellectual issues and is not a mere matter of prestidigitation.
A Revision of the Treaty|John Maynard Keynes
The Theosophical craze of recent years has had its influence on prestidigitation.
Magic, Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions Including Trick Photography|Albert A. Hopkins

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

prestidigitation

Origin of prestidigitation

OTHER WORDS FROM prestidigitation

Words nearby prestidigitation

Words related to prestidigitation

How to use prestidigitation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prestidigitation

Derived forms of prestidigitation

Word Origin for prestidigitation