phenakism

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noun

deception; trickery.

OriginAncient Greek φενακιστής →
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Meanings

nounphenakism (plural phenakisms)

plural phenakisms

  1. dateddeception; trickery.

    The people of England are at once too discerning and too truth-loving to tolerate a system of phenakism and reserve, whether in the interest of Popery or infidelity.

    1859, Rev. Baden Powell, The Quarterly Review, The Order of Nature, page 442

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekφενακιστής“cheat, imposter”
  2. Englishphenakism

From Ancient Greek φενακιστής (phenakistḗs, “cheat, imposter”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

phenakism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phenakism

MLA

“phenakism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phenakism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phenakism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phenakism.

Source: phenakism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.