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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. 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
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