hocus

Etymology
See.

Verb

 * 1) To play a trick on, to trick (someone); to hoax; to cheat.
 * 2) * 1677, ’s Visions, London: Arthur Boldero, Eighth Vision, p.117,
 * to contemplate the miseries of a poor Poetick life, or study some well laid plot to Hocus his Landlady into a further credence or belief
 * 1)  To stupefy (someone) with drugged liquor (especially in order to steal from them).
 * 2) * 1905,, “The Hocussing of Cigarette” in Baroness Orczy’s Old Man in the Corner: , , The Glasgow Mystery, Landsville, Pennsylvania: Coachwhip Publications, 2010, p.243,
 * Then I had a good think on the subject of the hocussing of Cigarette, and I was reluctantly bound to admit that once again the man in the corner had found the only possible solution to the mystery.
 * 1)  To drug (liquor).
 * 2)  To adulterate (food).
 * 1) * 1905,, “The Hocussing of Cigarette” in Baroness Orczy’s Old Man in the Corner: , , The Glasgow Mystery, Landsville, Pennsylvania: Coachwhip Publications, 2010, p.243,
 * Then I had a good think on the subject of the hocussing of Cigarette, and I was reluctantly bound to admit that once again the man in the corner had found the only possible solution to the mystery.
 * 1)  To drug (liquor).
 * 2)  To adulterate (food).
 * 1)  To drug (liquor).
 * 2)  To adulterate (food).
 * 1)  To adulterate (food).
 * 1)  To adulterate (food).

Noun

 * 1)  A magician, illusionist, one who practises sleight of hand.
 * 2) * 1689, (translator), Twenty-Two Select  out of , London: R. Bentley & R. Sare, p.33,
 * ’Tis rather to exercise our Curiosity, and keep us from Idleness, or worse Diversions, as running mad after Buffoons, Dice, Fortune-tellers, and Hocus’s, &c.
 * 1)  One who cheats or deceives.
 * 2) * 1685,, “A Sermon Preached at Christ-Church, Oxon, Before the University, May 3. 1685” in Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions, London: Thomas Bennett, 1692, p.523,
 * when thy Brother has lost all that ever he had, and lies languishing, and even gasping under the utmost extremities of poverty and distress, dost thou think thus to lick him whole again, only with thy Tongue? just like that old formal Hocus, who denyed a Beggar a farthing, and put him off with his Blessing.
 * 1) Trick; trickery.
 * 2) * 1871,, letter to dated 29 September, 1871, cited in , The Life of Florence Nightingale, London: Macmillan, 1913, Volume 2, Part 7, Chapter 1, p.223,
 * I do not agree with you in thinking that there are no difficulties, although the old difficulties, about the origin of evil &c., are generally a hocus of Theologians.
 * 1)  Drugged liquor.
 * 1) * 1871,, letter to dated 29 September, 1871, cited in , The Life of Florence Nightingale, London: Macmillan, 1913, Volume 2, Part 7, Chapter 1, p.223,
 * I do not agree with you in thinking that there are no difficulties, although the old difficulties, about the origin of evil &c., are generally a hocus of Theologians.
 * 1)  Drugged liquor.
 * I do not agree with you in thinking that there are no difficulties, although the old difficulties, about the origin of evil &c., are generally a hocus of Theologians.
 * 1)  Drugged liquor.
 * 1)  Drugged liquor.