prestidigitation

WOTD - 4 June 2007    

English

Etymology

From French prestidigitation

from French preste (“nimble, quick”)

from Italian presto

from Late Latin praestus, ("ready at hand")

+ Latin digitus (“finger”)

+ noun of process suffix -ation

from Latin perfect passive participle suffix -atus

+ suffix -io.

• Note: despite the phonetic similarities, the words prestidigitator and prestidigitation have different origins than prestige, even though this in the past has meant "delusion, illusion, trick".

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˌprɛstɪˌdɪdʒɪˈteɪʃən/
• (US) IPA: /ˌprɛstəˌdɪdʒɪˈteɪʃən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

prestidigitation (plural prestidigitations)

1. A performance of or skill in performing magic or conjuring tricks with the hands; sleight of hand.

   My favorite prestidigitation was when he pulled the live dove out of that tiny scarf.

2. A show of skill or deceitful cleverness.

   His writing was peppered with verbal tricks and prestidigitation.

Related terms

• prestidigitator

Translations

sleight of hand

Finnish: silmänkääntötemppu (fi) (performance); sorminäppäryys (fi), näppäryys (fi) (skill) French: prestidigitation (fr) f.

Japanese: 手品 (tejina)

deceitful cleverness

French: prestidigitation (fr) f.