| 释义 |
legerdemain|ˌlɛdʒədɪˈmeɪn|
Forms: 5 lygarde de mayne, lechardemane, legerdemayn, 6 legerdemane, -dymeyne, -du-maine, -dimeane, ledgerdemaine, -mayne, ligier de meyne, -demayne, du mayne, legier du mane, ligerdemayne, lieger-du-mayne, liger, legyier, lygier demaine, 6–7 legerdemaine, -mayne, -mane, legierdemain(e, -dumain(e, leigerdumain, -demaine, 7 leger du main, mein, leiger du mayn, legger-, legeirdemaine, 8 leidger demain, 6– legerdemain (in 6–8 written as two or three words, and with hyphens).
[a. F. léger de main, lit. ‘light of hand’: cf. leger a.]
1. Sleight of hand; the performance of tricks which by nimble action deceive the eye; jugglery; conjuring tricks.
14..Lydg. Daunce of Macabre, Lygarde-de-mayne now helpith me right noughte. c1475Cath. Angl. 212/2 (Add. MS.) To play lechardemane, pancraciari. 1528Roy Rede me (Arb.) 114 O churche men are wyly foxes More crafty then iuggelers boxes To play ligier du mayne teached. 1562W. Bullein Bk. Simples 30 a, Many Inkepers with their hostlers through a cast of legerdemain: can make a pecke of draffe and Beanes, buye three bushelles of cleane Pease or Beanes. 1584R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. xiii. xxii. (1886) 263 The true art..of juggling consisteth in legierdemaine; to wit, the nimble conveiance of the hand. 1596Spenser F.Q. v. ix. 13 For he in slights and jugling feates did flow, And of legierdemayne the mysteries did know. 1613R. C. Table Alph. (ed. 3), Legeirdemaine, light-handednesse, craftie slights, and conueiance. 1622Beaum. & Fl. Beggar's Bush iii. i, Will ye see any feates of activity, Some sleight of hand, leigerdemaine? 1707Farquhar Beaux Strat. v. v, What's here? Legerdemain! By this light, my lord, our money again! 1756C. Lucas Ess. Waters III. 220 The name of a magician..has..been assumed and abused by masters of leger de main. 1817Coleridge Biog. Lit. 116 The professors of legerdemain at our village fairs, pull out ribbon after ribbon from their mouth. 1856Dove Logic Chr. Faith ii. ii. 115 The legerdemain of the skilful trickster who deceives our very senses.
2. transf. and fig. Trickery, deception, hocus-pocus.
1532More Confut. Tindale Wks. 639/2 Hys lygier demaine in stealing. 1565Jewel Def. Apol. (1611) 529 Wel may we iest at your vnhandsome and open legierdumaine, that so vainly seeke to blinde vs with a painted shadow of the Spirit of God. 1679Hist. Jetzer 13 This whole business was nothing but pure Legerdemain and Knavery. 1711Shaftesbury Charac. (1737) I. Advice to Author i. i. 155 There is a certain Knack or Legerdemain in argument. 1796H. Glasse Cookery vii. 134 By this sort of legerdemain, some fine estates are juggled into France. 1823Lingard Hist. Eng. VI. 282 The theological legerdemain, by which Cranmer pretended to nullify the oath of obedience..to the pontiff. 1875Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 134 We are inclined to regard the treatment of them [paradoxes]..as a mere legerdemain of words.
†b. An instance of this; a trick, a juggle. Obs.
1550Bale Eng. Votaries ii. I iv, Theyr preuy leger⁓demaines wer not muche to be trusted. 1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 119, I would not that all Women should take Pepper in the nose, in that I have disclosed the legerdemaines of a few. 1625Gonsalvio's Sp. Inquis. Contents, The treacheries and legerdemaines of the Inquisition in practice and exercise. 1663Gerbier Counsel 48 He must with his Eyes follow..the line wherewith the Joyners work is measured, that it be not let slide through the Measurers fingers, since..a Leger de Mayne may be prejudicial to the paymasters purse.
†3. A sleight-of-hand performer, a conjurer. Obs. rare—1.
1695Cibber Love's Last Shift ii. (1696) 25 The Fool diverted me and I gave him my hand, as I wou'd lend my Mony, Fan, or Hankerchief to a Legerdemain, that I might see him play all his Tricks over.
4. attrib. or as adj. Pertaining to or of the nature of legerdemain or jugglery; juggling; tricky.
1576Newton Lemnie's Complex. ii. ii. 101 Some Iuglers, & Legier du maine players. 1683Dryden Life Plutarch Ded. 25 These legerdemain authors are for telling stories to keep their tricks undiscover'd. 1707Curios. in Husb. & Gard. 91 Jugglers, who show Legerdemain Tricks. 1742Lond. & Country Brew. i. (ed. 4) 39 In such a Legerdemain Manner, as gulled and infatuated the ignorant Drinker. 1760J. Rutty Spirit. Diary (ed. 2) 171 A legerdemain-man getting four guineas a day. 1812Southey in Q. Rev. VIII. 96 Phantasmagoric and legerdemain miracles. 1836J. Gilbert Chr. Atonem. ii. (1852) 47 The legerdemain kind of criticism resorted to by our adversaries.
Hence, † legerdeˈmain v. intr. (also with it), to perform tricks, to use deceit; legerdeˈmainish a., resembling that of legerdemain; legerdeˈmainist, a performer of legerdemain, a conjurer.
1483Cath. Angl. 212/2 To Legerdemayn..pancraciari. a1678Marvell Hist. Poem in Poems Affairs State (1697) 99 Baal's wretched Curates Legerdemain'd it so, And never durst their Tricks above-board shew. 18..Worcester 1860 (citing Observer) Legerdemainist. 1877F. C. Burnand Ride to Khiva 10 You know what a good Legerdemainist I am. 1888Sat. Rev. 21 Jan. 71 No one ever performed that operation in a more legerdemainish fashion. 1891Critic (U.S.) 31 Jan. 57/2 The handkerchief tricks of the legerdemainist. |