noun
prestidigitation
pres-tih-dij-ih-TAY-shun/prˌɛstɪdɪdʒʌtˈeɪʃʌn/
Magic tricks performed with skillful hand movements.
The magician uses prestidigitation to make a coin seemingly disappear.
Etymology
The French coinage belongs to a formation roughly modeled on Latin “juggler, trickster,” influenced by Italian “quick” and Latin “finger.” Those associations suit magic performed through finger dexterity.
More examples
- She practices prestidigitation with a deck of cards.
- His prestidigitation amazes guests seated just a few feet away.
- Successful prestidigitation often depends on distracting the audience.
Forms
prestidigitator noun — A magician who performs sleight-of-hand tricks.
Similar words
- legerdemain
- Also means sleight of hand, but can describe figurative trickery.
- magic
- Covers stage illusions beyond tricks performed with the hands.