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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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Origin of prestidigitation

1855–60; <French: literally, ready-fingeredness, coinage perhaps based on prestigiateur juggler, conjurer, derivative of Latin praestīgiae juggler's tricks (see prestige). See prest1, 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. 2021

Words related to prestidigitation

necromancy, foreboding, augury, prediction, incantation, divination, astrology, trickery, thaumaturgy, witchcraft, fascination, alchemy, allurement, presage, illusion, abracadabra, power, enchantment, spell, sorcery

Example sentences from the Web for prestidigitation

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
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