prestidigitation

American  

[pres-ti-dij-i-tey-shuhn] / ˌprɛs tɪˌdɪdʒ ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. sleight of hand; legerdemain.

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prestidigitation British  

/ ˌprɛstɪˌdɪdʒɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. another name for sleight of hand

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Other Word Forms

• prestidigitator noun
• prestidigitatorial adjective
• prestidigitatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of prestidigitation

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”; presto, prestige, digit, -ation

Example Sentences

Still, the biggest act of prestidigitation is yet to come, and actually occurs after Pence provides his proof texts.

From Salon • Aug. 27, 2023

Roberts tried to work around this problem through some trademark prestidigitation.

From Slate • Jun. 27, 2023

Knowing remote prestidigitation could work, I spent the two weeks after booking my ticket to “The Present” lurking and squinting and nervously participating online and on the phone, exploring how.

From New York Times • May 15, 2020

Calder’s carefully balanced mobiles floating on gentle breezes and the whirling, carnival-style prestidigitation of Duchamp’s optical Rotoreliefs bear scant resemblance to each other.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 27, 2017

One cannot affect surprise if the distinction between this amazing exploit of diplomatico-military prestidigitation and intermeddling in the internal affairs of another nation prove too subtle for the mental grasp of the average unpolitical individual.

From The Inside Story of the Peace Conference by Dillon, Emile Joseph