Synonym a Day

The ostensible aim of Mr. Randi’s hoax [i.e., convincing researchers that two boys had paranormal powers] was to make psychic researchers rely more widely on the advice of magicians. . . . [However,] the editor of Zetetic Scholar, a journal devoted to the skeptical analysis of paranormal claims, [stated:] “In no way will his project teach psychic researchers a lesson and make them more likely to trust to magicians’ advice.” (William Broad, “Magician’s Effort to Debunk Scientists Raises Ethical Issues,” New York Times, 2/15/1983.)