Complete Definition of "prestidigitation"

was wotd|2007|June|4
English

Etymology
From F. #French|prestidigitation from F. preste#French|preste, nimble, quick (from Italian presto#Italian|presto, from Late Latin praestus#Latin|praestus, "ready at hand") + L. digitus#Latin|digitus, finger, + noun of process suffix -ation, from Latin perfect passive participle suffix -atus + suffix -io.

Pronunciation
italbrac|RP IPA|/�pr�stɪ�dɪd�ɪ�teɪ��n/
italbrac|US IPA|/�pr�st��dɪd�ɪ�teɪ��n/
audio|en-us-prestidigitation.ogg|Audio (US)
rhymes|eɪ��n

Noun
en-noun

  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.

  1. A show of skill or deceitful cleverness.

#:His writing was peppered with verbal tricks and prestidigitation.

Related terms
prestidigitator

Translations
trans-top|sleight of hand
French: prestidigitation f
trans-mid
Japanese: �� (tejina)
trans-bottom

trans-top|deceitful cleverness
French: prestidigitation f
trans-mid
trans-bottom

de:prestidigitation
fr:prestidigitation
ru:prestidigitation
vi:prestidigitation
zh:prestidigitation

Revision and Credits for"prestidigitation"
Dictionary content provided from Wiktionary.org under the
GNU Free Documentation License
 
 

 Find:
  Words Starting With:
  Words Ending With:
  Words Containing:
  Words That Match:

 
 Translate Into:
  
Dutch   French   German
  
Italian   Spanish
    Show results per page.

Browse the Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

   
Allwords Copyright 1998-2024 All rights reserved.