legerdemain

When a magician waves his hands over a hat and pulls out a rabbit, he is performing an act of legerdemain or trickery.

Legerdemain can be used literally to describe a magic trick, or figuratively to describe some other kind of trickery or deceit. If you and some friends cook up a scheme that involves telling complicated lies so that you can stay out all night, you are guilty of legerdemain. The word comes from the French léger de main which means dexterous, or light of hand.

Definitions of legerdemain
  1. noun
    an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers
    synonyms: conjuration, conjuring trick, deception, illusion, magic, magic trick, thaumaturgy, trick
    see moresee less
    types:
    card trick
    a trick performed with playing cards
    prestidigitation, sleight of hand
    manual dexterity in the execution of tricks
    type of:
    performance
    the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment
Word Family
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