hocus-pocus

== English == === 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. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌhəʊkəs ˈpəʊkəs/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˌhoʊkəs ˈpoʊkəs/, /-kɪs/ Rhymes: -əʊkəs Hyphenation: ho‧cus-po‧cus === Interjection === hocus-pocus A phrase used (by a stage magician, etc.) as a magical incantation to bring about some change: abracadabra, hey presto. ==== Alternative forms ==== hocus pocus ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Noun === hocus-pocus (usually uncountable, plural hocus-pocuses or hocus-pocusses or hoci-poci) (uncountable) Some ineffectual action or speech, especially if intended to divert attention; nonsense. (uncountable, derogatory) Religious or supernatural phenomena one holds to be nonsense or mere trickery; superstitious mumbo-jumbo. (countable, uncountable, chiefly US, also attributively) Some action carried out to bring about change as if by magic; a trick; sleight of hand, trickery. (countable, obsolete) A conjurer. (countable, obsolete) A conjurer's trick. ==== Alternative forms ==== hocus and pocus hocuspocus hocus pocus ==== Derived terms ==== hanky-panky (possibly) hocus hocus-pocuser, hocus-pocusser hokeypokey, hokey pokey ==== Translations ==== === Verb === hocus-pocus (third-person singular simple present hocus-pocuses or hocus-pocusses or hocuses-pocuses or hocusses-pocusses, present participle hocus-pocusing or hocus-pocussing or hocusing-pocusing or hocussing-pocussing, simple past and past participle hocus-pocused or hocus-pocussed or hocused-pocused or hocussed-pocussed) (ambitransitive, colloquial, dated) To play tricks or practise sleight of hand (on someone); (by extension) to cheat, to deceive. ==== Derived terms ==== hocus-pocuser ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === hocus-pocus on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “hocus-pocus, hocus pocus, hocuspocus”, in Google Books Ngram Viewer. “hocus-pocus”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. Gary Martin (1997–), “Hocus-pocus”, in The Phrase Finder, retrieved 26 February 2017.