prestidigitation

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.

The word has a different origin from prestige, even though this in the past has meant "delusion, illusion, trick".

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌpɹɛstɪˌdɪdʒɪˈteɪʃən/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌpɹɛstəˌdɪdʒɪˈteɪʃən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

prestidigitation (countable and uncountable, 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.

• prestidigitator

• legerdemain

prestidigitateur +‎ -tion

• IPA^(key): /pʁɛs.ti.di.ʒi.ta.sjɔ̃/

prestidigitation f (plural prestidigitations)

1. prestidigitation

• “prestidigitation” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).