- 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.
(noun) A ruler who holds absolute power, often using it in a harsh or oppressive way.
The novel’s villain is a despot who crushes any hint of dissent to maintain his grip on power.
Despot comes from the Greek despotēs, meaning “master” or “one with authority.”