Legerdemain meaning

Noun: legerdemain

Pronunciation: (,le-ju-du’meyn)

Legerdemain meaning:

1. An illusory feat which is considered magical by naive observers. Synonyms: conjuring, conjuring trick, deception, illusion, magic, magic trick, thaumaturgy, trick
2. Skilful use of one’s hands when performing conjuring tricks. Deception or trickery. Synonyms: wizardry, dexterity, craft, deceit

Quotations: Henry de Vere Stacpoole – A great sea fog is not homogenous–its density varies: it is honeycombed with streets, it has its caves of clear air, its cliffs of solid vapour, all shifting and changing place with the subtlety of legerdemain.

George Sarton – The chief requisite for the making of a good chicken pie is chicken; no amount of culinary legerdemain can make up for the lack of chicken. In the same way, the chief requisite for the history of science is intimate scientific knowledge; no amount of philosophic legerdemain can make up for its absence.

Unknown – Their alleged legerdemain at the blackjack table and roulette wheel of the luxurious Salle Anglaise was caught on closed-circuit television.

Will Bakewell – He was an admirable marksman, an expert swimmer, a clever rider, possessed of great activity [and] prodigious strength, and was notable for the elegance of his figure and the beauty of his features, and he aided nature by a careful attendance to his dress. Besides other accomplishments he was musical, a good fencer, danced well, and had some acquaintance with legerdemain tricks, worked in hair, and could plait willow baskets.

Sample sentences:

1. We are inclined to regard the treatment of paradoxes as a mere legerdemain of words.
2. The psychic always tries to use legerdemain to convince people.
3. The magician’s show was filled with legerdemain that kept the audience shocked and wondering.
4. Even after trying hard, I could not figure out how the magician pulled off his act of legerdemain.
5. The company has offered a great deal of money to write a book which describes his art of legerdemain.