hocuspocusses
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ho·cus-po·cus
[hoh-kuh
s-poh-kuhs] noun, verb, ho·cus-po·cused, ho·cus-po·cus·ing or ( especially British ) ho·cus-po·cussed, ho·cus-po·cus·sing. noun
1.
a meaningless chant or expression used in conjuring or incantation.
2.
a juggler's trick; sleight of hand.
3.
trickery; deception.
4.
unnecessarily mysterious or elaborate activity or talk to cover up a deception, magnify a simple purpose, etc.
verb (used with object)
5.
to play tricks on or with.
00:10
Hocuspocusses
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
verb (used without object)
6.
to perform tricks; practice trickery or deception.
Origin:
1615–25; pseudo-Latin rhyming formula used by jugglers and magicians
1615–25; pseudo-Latin rhyming formula used by jugglers and magicians
Synonyms
3. deceit, dishonesty, hanky-panky, double-dealing.
3. deceit, dishonesty, hanky-panky, double-dealing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To hocuspocusses
Collins
World English Dictionary
hocus-pocus (ˈhəʊkəsˈpəʊkəs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | trickery or chicanery |
| 2. | mystifying jargon |
| 3. | an incantation used by conjurors or magicians when performing tricks |
| 4. | conjuring skill or practice |
| —vb , -cuses, -cusing, -cused, -cuses, -cussing, -cussed | |
| 5. | to deceive or trick (someone) |
| [C17: perhaps a dog-Latin formation invented by jugglers] | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
hocus-pocus
1624, Hocas Pocas, common name of a magician or juggler, a sham-Latin invocation used in tricks, probably based on a perversion of the sacramental blessing from the Mass, Hoc est corpus meum "This is my body." The first to make this speculation on its origin apparently was Eng. prelate John Tillotson
(1630-1694).
"I will speak of one man ... that went about in King James his time ... who called himself, the Kings Majesties most excellent Hocus Pocus, and so was called, because that at the playing of every Trick, he used to say, Hocus pocus, tontus tabantus, vade celeriter jubeo, a dark composure of words, to blinde the eyes of the beholders, to make his Trick pass the more currantly without discovery." [Thomas Ady, "A Candle in the Dark," 1655]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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