Definition of legerdemain

exculpate Definition: (verb) to free from blame or guilt. Petersons.com

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< Léger, Fernand

legerity >

leg·er·de·main    (ljr-d-mn) KEY  

NOUN:

1. Sleight of hand.
2. A show of skill or deceitful cleverness: financial legerdemain.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English legerdemayn, from Old French leger de main : leger, light (from Vulgar Latin *levirius, from Latin levis; see leg^wh- in Indo-European roots) + de, of (from Latin d; see de- ) + main, hand ; see mortmain

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