Words / C2

lej-uh-d-uh-MAYN/ˌledʒədəˈmeɪn/

Legerdemain is skilful deception; sleight of hand (formal): political legerdemain, a feat of legerdemain. Magic (already in the dictionary) is everyday tricks that look impossible; a trick (already in the dictionary) is a cunning act, and to deceive (already in the dictionary) is to make someone believe a falsehood. To beguile (already in the dictionary) is to charm or trick, literary. A ranking slide is not an n.

Meaning

Skilful deception; sleight of hand (formal).

Examples

• “Legerdemain on the ranking slide does not invent an n.”
• “Magic is everyday impossible-looking tricks (already in A2). A trick is a cunning act (already in B2). To deceive is to plant a false belief (already in B2). To beguile is to charm or deceive (already in C2). A dated figure can still prop a paper. A flourish that never states the cell is branding. Write the number; then the scarf-trick.”

Good to know

Sleight of hand; skilful trickery. Everyday: magic / trick (already in this dictionary). Close: deceive (already in B2); beguile (already in C2). A flourish ≠ an n.

Near in meaning

sleight of hand, trickery, conjuring, deception

New