English Explanatory Dictionary

hocus-pocus

English dictionary entry

Meanings

intj
  1. A phrase used (by a stage magician, etc.) as a magical incantation to bring about some change: abracadabra, hey presto.
noun
  1. Some ineffectual action or speech, especially if intended to divert attention; nonsense.
  2. Religious or supernatural phenomena one holds to be nonsense or mere trickery; superstitious mumbo-jumbo.
  3. Some action carried out to bring about change as if by magic; a trick; sleight of hand, trickery.
  4. A conjurer.
  5. A conjurer's trick.
verb
  1. To play tricks or practise sleight of hand (on someone); (by extension) to cheat, to deceive.

Pronunciation

/ˌhəʊkəs ˈpəʊkəs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-hocus-pocus.wav /ˌhoʊkəs ˈpoʊkəs/ /-kɪs/

Word forms

hocus-pocus hocus pocus hocus-pocuses hocus-pocusses hoci-poci hocus and pocus hocuspocus hocuses-pocuses hocusses-pocusses hocus-pocusing hocus-pocussing hocusing-pocusing hocussing-pocussing hocus-pocused hocus-pocussed hocused-pocused hocussed-pocussed

Etymology

The interjection and noun are derived from pseudo-Latin magical incantations used by conjurers (formerly called “jugglers”) such as “hocus pocus, tontus talontus, vade celeriter jubeo” (by a particular 17th-century conjurer who allegedly adopted the moniker Hocus Pocus) and “hax pax max Deus adimax”. The suggestion that the term is a corruption of words from the Roman Catholic liturgy of the Eucharist, “hoc est enim corpus meum” (“this is my [i.e., Jesus’s] body”), was made in a sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury, John Tillotson (1630–1694), but is not generally accepted. The verb is derived from the noun.

Synonyms

alakazam shazam abracadabra hey pass hey presto hocus-pocus kazaam presto presto chango legerdemain prestigiation sleight of hand conjuration conjuring dweomercraft illusionism jugglery magic prestidigitation

Derived words

hokum hanky-panky hocus hocus-pocusser hokeypokey hokey pokey hocus-pocuser
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