prestidigitation

[ pres-ti-dij-i-tey-shuhn ]
See synonyms for prestidigitation on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. sleight of hand; legerdemain.

Origin of prestidigitation

1
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, noun
  • pres·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

Words Nearby prestidigitation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use prestidigitation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prestidigitation

prestidigitation

/ (ˌprɛstɪˌdɪdʒɪˈteɪʃən) /


noun
  1. another name for sleight of hand

Origin of prestidigitation

1
C19: from French: quick-fingeredness, from Latin praestigiae feats of juggling, tricks, probably influenced by French preste nimble, and Latin digitus finger; see prestige

Derived forms of prestidigitation

  • prestidigitator, noun

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