prestidigitation

[ pres-ti-dij-i-tey-shuh n ]

/ ˌprɛs tɪˌdɪdʒ ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

sleight of hand; legerdemain.

Nearby words

prest, prest money, prestation, prester john, presternum, prestidigitation, prestidigitator, prestige, prestige pricing, prestigious, prestissimo

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

Related formspres·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. 2019

Examples from the Web for prestidigitator

There appears to be no affinity between the prestidigitator and the theatrical manager, yet they both make passes.
The New Pun Book|Thomas A. Brown and Thomas Joseph Carey
It passed before Flora's eyes like a prestidigitator's trick, so rapid as to seem unreal, and left her staring.
The Coast of Chance|Esther Chamberlain
Such a prestidigitator as Signor Fantoccini has only to say—Presto!
Hearts and Masks|Harold MacGrath
At all these performances there are always amongst the spectators persons in league with the prestidigitator.
The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims|Andrew Steinmetz

After assuring himself that the coast was clear Sube drew back his sleeves in imitation of a prestidigitator.
Sube Cane|Edward Bellamy Partridge

British Dictionary definitions for prestidigitator

prestidigitation

/ (ˌprɛstɪˌdɪdʒɪˈteɪʃən) /

noun

another name for sleight of hand

Derived Formsprestidigitator, 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

Word Origin and History for prestidigitator (1 of 2)

prestidigitator

1843, from French prestidigitateur, a hybrid coined 1830 by Jules de Rovère (who sought a new word, "qui s'accorderait mieux à ses nobles origines" to replace escamoteur and physicien), roughly based on Latin praestigiator "juggler" (see prestigious); influenced by Italian presto "quick," a conjuror's word (see presto), and by Latin digitus "finger" (see digit).

Word Origin and History for prestidigitator (1 of 2)

prestidigitation

1843, from French prestidigitation, which was coined along with prestidigitator (q.v.).