Synonyms for hocus-pocus
| Grammar : Noun |
| Spell : hoh-kuhs-poh-kuhs |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈhoʊ kəsˈpoʊ kəs |
Top 10 synonyms for hocus-pocus Other synonyms for the word hocus-pocus
Définition of hocus-pocus
Origin :- 1620s, Hocas Pocas, common name of a magician or juggler, a sham-Latin invocation used in tricks, probably based on a perversion of the sacramental blessing from the Mass, Hoc est corpus meum "This is my body." The first to make this speculation on its origin apparently was English prelate John Tillotson (1630-1694).
- I will speak of one man ... that went about in King James his time ... who called himself, the Kings Majesties most excellent Hocus Pocus, and so was called, because that at the playing of every Trick, he used to say, Hocus pocus, tontus tabantus, vade celeriter jubeo, a dark composure of words, to blinde the eyes of the beholders, to make his Trick pass the more currantly without discovery. [Thomas Ady, "A Candle in the Dark," 1655]
- noun sleight of hand
- With hocus-pocus like that no dog is lured from the stove in the real world.
- Extract from : « Erdgeist (Earth-Spirit) » by Frank Wedekind
- They regard it fixedly as hocus-pocus, childish if not wicked.
- Extract from : « Tongues of Conscience » by Robert Smythe Hichens
- You at any rate are not a simpleton to be taken in by any sort of hocus-pocus.
- Extract from : « Meccania » by Owen Gregory
- Theres your own prestige too, and all the hocus-pocus and mummery that you know how to work on them.
- Extract from : « The Exiles of Faloo » by Barry Pain
- His holiness made his hocus-pocus with the greatest devotion.
- Extract from : « Sketches of Central Asia (1868) » by Arminius Vmbry
- Why seek to limit the duration of hell by some hocus-pocus of interpretation?
- Extract from : « Flowers of Freethought » by George W. Foote
- What good does he suppose all this hocus-pocus is going to do us?
- Extract from : « The Boy Aviators in Africa » by Wilbur Lawton
- I defy any man to look between the lines and scent my hocus-pocus game.
- Extract from : « The Long Chance » by Peter B. Kyne
- I did so, and he began to perform all sorts of hocus-pocus over me.
- Extract from : « Told by the Death's Head » by Mr Jkai
- One more cabalistic performance and the hocus-pocus was ended.
- Extract from : « The Witches of New York » by Q. K. Philander Doesticks
Antonyms for hocus-pocus
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019