legerdemain
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Legerdemain — Leg er*de*main (l[e^]j [ e]r*d[ e]*m[=a]n ), n. [F. l[ e]ger light, nimble + de of + main hand, L. manus. See 3d {Leger}, and {Manual}.] Sleight of hand; a trick of sleight of hand; hence, any artful deception or trick. [1913 Webster] He of… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
legerdemain — early 15c., conjuring tricks, from M.Fr. léger de main quick of hand, lit. light of hand, from léger light in weight (from L. levis light; see LEVER (Cf. lever)) + main hand (from L. manus; see MANUAL (Cf … Etymology dictionary
legerdemain — [n] sleight of hand artfulness, chicanery, conjuring, craftiness, cunning, deceit, deception, hocus pocus, manipulation, trickery; concepts 59,278 … New thesaurus
legerdemain — ► NOUN 1) skilful use of one s hands when performing conjuring tricks. 2) deception; trickery. ORIGIN from French léger de main dexterous (literally light of hand ) … English terms dictionary
legerdemain — [lej΄ər di mān′] n. [ME < MFr leger de main, lit., light of hand < leger (< LL * levarius < L levis, LIGHT2) + de (< L de, of, from) + main < L manus, hand] 1. sleight of hand; skill of a stage magician 2. trickery of any sort;… … English World dictionary
legerdemain — noun 1) stage magicians practicing legerdemain Syn: sleight of hand, conjuring, magic, wizardry; formal prestidigitation; rare thaumaturgy 2) a piece of management legerdemain Syn: trickery, cunning, artfulness, craftiness, chicanery … Thesaurus of popular words
legerdemain — le|ger|de|main [ˌledʒədəˈmeın US dʒər ] n [U] old fashioned [Date: 1400 1500; : French; Origin: léger de main light of hand ] when you deceive people cleverly ▪ economic legerdemain … Dictionary of contemporary English
legerdemain — (leh jer de MAIN, lay zhay deu MENH) [French] Sleight of hand; hocus pocus; trickery; artful deception. Yugoslavs themselves express wonder at how Milosevic manages this feat of financial legerdemain. Time, April 26, 1999 … Dictionary of foreign words and phrases
legerdemain — noun Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French leger de main light of hand Date: 15th century 1. sleight of hand 2. a display of skill or adroitness … New Collegiate Dictionary
legerdemain — legerdemainist, n. /lej euhr deuh mayn /, n. 1. sleight of hand. 2. trickery; deception. 3. any artful trick. [1400 50; late ME legerdemeyn, lygarde de mayne < MF: lit., light of hand] * * * … Universalium
