Prestigiator

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A performer who captivates an audience through deceptive tricks and illusions that give a sense of wonder and disbelief
2. An entertainer who amazes spectators by skillfully using deceptive acts and sleight of hand to create illusions
3. A performer skilled in creating the appearance of magical events by tricking the senses and manipulating objects

Etymology: "Prestigiator" is a Latin borrowing meaning a juggler, trickster or conjuror, and its root is the Latin "praestigiae," meaning illusions or deceptions. The Latin noun itself is built from "praestringere," to bind tightly or dazzle, which gives a sense of the eyes being blinded by a trick. In classical Latin, the word could describe a cheat or a charlatan as readily as a performer. The English word follows the same path, borrowed directly from Latin, and its sense has stayed close to the original: someone who creates illusions and dazzles an audience. The Latin root survives in the related English word "prestige," which also came from "praestigium" (an illusion) and only later took on its modern meaning of standing or reputation.

Synonyms: magician, illusionist, conjuror, sorcerer, wizard