- Today's Word
Legerdemain
LEJ-er-duh-mayn
Definition
- (noun) Skillful use of one’s hands to perform tricks; sleight of hand.
- A display of cleverness or trickery, often used to deceive or manipulate.
Example
The magician’s legerdemain left the audience spellbound as he made a coin vanish into thin air.
Fun Fact
“Legerdemain” comes from the Old French phrase leger de main, meaning “light of hand.” Originally associated with the art of conjuring and physical dexterity, it gained figurative use to describe any clever deception or cunning trickery. The term highlights the historical fascination with illusionists and the broader application of their skills to describe crafty or skillful maneuvering in politics, business, or everyday life.
(adjective) Regarded as holy, honored, or greatly revered.
They walked silently through the hallowed halls of the memorial.
Old English hāliged, past participle of hālgian meaning “to make holy” — related to the word holy itself.