Legerdemain

  • 1Legerdemain — 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

  • 2legerdemain — index deception, knavery, maneuver (trick), prestidigitation Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 3legerdemain — 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

  • 4legerdemain — [n] sleight of hand artfulness, chicanery, conjuring, craftiness, cunning, deceit, deception, hocus pocus, manipulation, trickery; concepts 59,278 …

    New thesaurus

  • 5legerdemain — ► 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

  • 6legerdemain — [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

  • 7legerdemain — 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

  • 8legerdemain — 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

  • 9legerdemain —    (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

  • 10legerdemain — 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

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