Iillusionist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A stage performer who creates astonishing visual effects and magic tricks ; a person who deceives others through false appearances or misleading notions
2. An entertainer skilled at sleight of hand and conjuring ; someone who beguiles people by presenting things that are not what they seem
3. One who practices conjuring feats for an audience ; a deceiver who fosters false impressions through deceptive or unreal displays

Etymology: Illusion comes from the Latin "illudere," which combined "in-" with "ludere," meaning "to play." To "illudere" someone was to mock or trick them, so the original sense was closer to playing a joke on someone than to creating a convincing sight. The same root gives English "ludicrous," which comes from "ludicrus," a playful or sportive thing, and "ludus," the Latin for game or play. The English word for a performer who deceives an audience's eyes is built from that noun, with the suffix "-ist" added to mark a practitioner. The result keeps the playful root of its ancestor, though a stage conjurer's trick is meant to be enjoyed rather than resented.