11 results for: Legerdemain

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

leg·er·de·main

Audio Help [lej-er-duh-meyn] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	sleight of hand.

2.	trickery; deception.

3.	any artful trick.

[Origin: 1400–50; late ME legerdemeyn, lygarde de mayne < MF: lit., light of hand

]

—Related forms

leg·er·de·main·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Legerdemain

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

leg·er·de·main Audio Help (lěj'ər-də-mān') Pronunciation Key
n.

Sleight of hand.
A show of skill or deceitful cleverness: financial legerdemain.

[Middle English legerdemayn, from Old French leger de main : leger, light (from Vulgar Latin *leviārius, from Latin levis; see leg^wh- in Indo-European roots) + de, of (from Latin dē; see de-) + main, hand; see mortmain.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
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Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry:	legerdemain¹
Part of Speech:	n
Definition:	sleight of hand; magic tricks; any illusory feat
Etymology:	French 'light of hand'

Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7)
Copyright © 2003-2008 Lexico Publishing Group, LLC

Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry:	legerdemain²
Part of Speech:	n
Definition:	trickery; deception
Etymology:	French 'light of hand'

Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7)
Copyright © 2003-2008 Lexico Publishing Group, LLC

Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English - Cite This Source - Share This

Main Entry:	legerdemain³
Part of Speech:	n
Definition:	one who performs magic tricks
Etymology:	French 'light of hand'

Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.7)
Copyright © 2003-2008 Lexico Publishing Group, LLC

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
legerdemain

c.1430, "conjuring tricks," from M.Fr. léger de main "quick of hand," from léger "light" in weight (from L. levis "light;" see lever) + main "hand" (from L. manus, see manual).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

legerdemain
noun
an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers [syn: magic trick]

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Legerdemain

Leg`er*de*main"\ (l[e^]j`[~e]r*d[-e]*m[=a]n"), n. [F. l['e]ger light, nimble + de of + main hand, L. manus. See 3d Leger, and Manual.] Sleight of hand; a trick of sleight of hand; hence, any artful deception or trick.

He of legierdemayne the mysteries did know. --Spenser.

The tricks and legerdemain by which men impose upon their own souls. --South.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Legerdemain

Le"ver\ (l[=e]"v[~e]r or l[e^]v"[~e]r; 277), n. [OE. levour, OF. leveor, prop., a lifter, fr. F. lever to raise, L. levare; akin to levis light in weight, E. levity, and perh. to E. light not heavy: cf. F. levier. Cf. Alleviate, Elevate, Leaven, Legerdemain, Levee, Levy, n.]

1. (Mech.) A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; -- used for transmitting and modifying force and motion. Specif., a bar of metal, wood, or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is of three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P, respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures.

2. (Mach.) (a) A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it. (b) An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it.

Compound lever, a machine consisting of two or more levers acting upon each other.

Lever escapement. See Escapement.

Lever jack. See Jack, n., 5.

Lever watch, a watch having a vibrating lever to connect the action of the escape wheel with that of the balance.

Universal lever, a machine formed by a combination of a lever with the wheel and axle, in such a manner as to convert the reciprocating motion of the lever into a continued rectilinear motion of some body to which the power is applied.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Legerdemain

Man"u*al\ (m[a^]n"[-u]*al), a. [OE. manuel, F. manuel, L. manualis, fr. manus hand; prob. akin to AS. mund hand, protection, OHG. munt, G. m["u]ndel a ward, vormund guardian, Icel. mund hand. Cf. Emancipate, Legerdemain, Maintain, Manage, Manner, Manure, Mound a hill.] Of or pertaining to the hand; done or made by the hand; as, manual labor; the king's sign manual. "Manual and ocular examination." --Tatham.

Manual alphabet. See Dactylology.

Manual exercise (Mil.) the exercise by which soldiers are taught the use of their muskets and other arms.

Seal manual, the impression of a seal worn on the hand as a ring.

Sign manual. See under Sign.

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