Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A performance of or skill in performing magic or conjuring tricks with the hands.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Synonyms: sleight of hand, legerdemain
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A show of skill or deceitful cleverness.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable
Synonyms: sleight of hand, legerdemain, deception, imposition, hype, deceit, dupery, fiddle, fetch, hocus-pocus, jugglery, list, mislead, prestidigitation, Punic faith, rinky-dink, ruse, subterfuge, swack, trickery
Antonyms: none provided
noun
manual dexterity in the execution of tricks
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: sleight of hand
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: magic trick, conjuring trick, trick, magic, legerdemain, conjuration, thaumaturgy, illusion, deception
History
From French prestidigitation, from French preste (“nimble, quick”) + Latin digitus (“finger”) + French -ation (process suffix). The word has a different origin from prestige, even though this in the past has meant “delusion, illusion, trick”.
Across languages
29 source translations are retained for this English entry.
