jugglery

plural juggleries

1. archaiccountableuncountableWitchcraft, sorcery; magical trickery, legerdemain.

   [T]he vessel swarmed with the most hideous apparitions. […] But Huldbrand was indignant at such unsightly jugglery [translating Gaukeleien].

   1867, Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué, translated by FE Bunnett, Undine

   1 more example

   Omens were expounded, dreams were interpreted, and other tricks of jugglery perhaps resorted to, by which the pretended adepts of the period deceived and fascinated their deluded followers.

   1819, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 31, in The Bride of Lammermoor

   Synonyms: prestigiation, sleight of hand, conjuration, conjuring, dweomercraft, hocus-pocus, illusionism, legerdemain

2. broadlycountableuncountableTrickery or deception in general, or an instance of such.

   What they call the Great War is over […] and yet what do we see around us? Nothing but strife and juggleries and hatred and contempt and discord wherever you look.

   1942, Walter de la Mare, “All Hallows”, in Best Stories of Walter de la Mare

   Synonyms: legerdemain, sleight of hand, deception, imposition, hype, deceit, dupery, fiddle