1546, "practicing illusion or magic, deceptive," from L.
præstigious "full of tricks," from
præstigiæ "juggler's tricks," probably altered by dissimilation from
præstringere "to blind, blindfold, dazzle," from
præ- "before" +
stringere "to tie or bind" (see
strain (v.)).
Prestige is from 1656, from Fr.
prestige "an illusion" (16c.). These words were derogatory until 19c.; prestige in the sense of "dazzling influence" was first applied 1815, to Napoleon.
Prestigious with this sense is attested from 1913.
[pre-stij-uh
s, -stij-ee-uh
