What is the Latin word for sleight?

The usual Latin words for “sleight” are praestīgia, fallāx, praestigĭātrix. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“sleight” in Latin

praestīgiadeception, illusion, trick; act of legerdemain, sleight of hand, magic trick fallāxdeceptive, deceitful; fallacious, spurious praestigĭātrixshe who plays tricks

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

sleight

(of hand)(of hand), praestigiae (circulatoriae praestigiae, Tert., Apol., 23): fallacia (trickery, general term): vana miracula (false miracles, Liv., 7, 17, 4). To practise sleight of hand, praestigias agere: one who practises sleight of hand, prsestigiator: feminine, praestigiatrix.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for sleight?: The usual Latin words for “sleight” are praestīgia, fallāx, praestigĭātrix. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.