prestidigitation

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

/ ˌprɛs tɪˌdɪdʒ ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

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noun

sleight of hand; legerdemain.

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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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use prestidigitation in a sentence

Cohen, who sometimes disguised himself as Alfred the Magician or Purnell Zorch, was a professional illusionist, but he also held court as one of the country’s most prominent purveyors of the fine art of prestidigitation.
Al Cohen, D.C. magic shop proprietor who knew all the tricks, dies at 94|Matt Schudel|December 18, 2020|Washington Post
A prestidigitator who, putting metal into your mouth, pulls coins out of your pocket.
The Devil's Dictionary|Ambrose Bierce
Such a prestidigitator as Signor Fantoccini has only to say—Presto!
Hearts and Masks|Harold MacGrath
Verily, love is a prestidigitator who can change the lion into the lamb as easily as a handkerchief into a flower-pot!
Mrs. Craddock|W. Somerset Maugham

The same audience would applaud Paderewski or a great prestidigitator.
The Young Man and the World|Albert J. Beveridge
But your boss comes in every day as perky and set up as an amateur prestidigitator doing the egg trick.
The Four Million|O. Henry

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 related to prestidigitation

How to use prestidigitation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prestidigitation

Derived forms of prestidigitation

Word Origin for prestidigitation