Word of the Day

prestidigitation

Now that is an amazing word!

It means “sleight of hand”, as in the quick-fingered movements made by magicians to create an illusion.

I found it in a TC Boyle short story, to describe how fish scales are flying from the fishergirl’s knife and seem to be “animated and dancing on the breeze as if by some feat of prestidigitation”.

I can’t even remember how to spell it, let alone pronounce it!

Fun!

By the way, a review of a fantastic book for word lovers coming up soon… watch this space!