prestidigitateur

Forms

prestidigitateur m (plural prestidigitateurs, feminine prestidigitatrice)^[1]

Etymology

It is from French preste (“nimble”), combined with Latin digitus (“finger”) and the suffix -ateur, literally “a man with nimble fingers”.^[2][3][4][5] Rey thinks its coiner probably had in mind praestīgiae (“juggling tricks”).^[3] Wiktionary attributes the coinage to Jules de Rovère.^[1] The adjective itself is from Italian presto.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1823, in the additions to Boiste's dictionary, for a conjurer.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

The noun prestidigitation was formed at once by a change of suffix (1823, or 1829 according to Bloch and Wartburg).^[3][4] Littré defines it with escamoteur, a performer of tricks.^[7] By analogy, from 1837 (Balzac), it was applied to anyone whose skill produces illusions or extraordinary results.^[3][6]

Timeline

• 1823 – First record, in the additions to Boiste's dictionary.^[2][4]
• 1823 – Prestidigitation is also recorded.^[3]
• 1837 – Balzac uses it figuratively.^[6][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. A conjurer or magician, an entertainer who by sleight of hand makes objects appear, disappear or change: un tour de prestidigitateur.^[2][8][9]
2. (figurative) A person whose skill creates illusions: un prestidigitateur des chiffres.^[6][3][8]

Word family

• prestidigitation

Related words

• preste
• prestesse
• doigt
• illusionniste
• escamoteur
• Latin digitus

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 9, 319a
6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
8. ^ a b Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
9. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)