magus

Etymology

From Latin magus, from Ancient Greek μάγος (mágos, “magician”), from Μάγος (Mágos, “Magian”), of an indeterminate Old Iranian origin (see Μάγος for details)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmeɪɡəs/
• Rhymes: -eɪɡəs

Noun

magus (plural magi)

1. (common usage) magician, and derogatorily sorcerer, trickster, conjurer, charlatan
2. (special usage) a Zoroastrian priest

Note: the two meanings overlap in classical usage— both derive from the Greco-Roman identification of "Zoroaster" as the "inventor" of astrology and magic. The first meaning ('magician') derives from the sense of "practitioner of the Zoroaster's craft", and the second meaning ('priest') from the sense of "practitioner of Zoroaster's religion".

Anagrams

• gaums, sagum

Etymology

From the same root as Finnish makea.

Adjective

magus (genitive magusa, partitive magusat)

1. sweet (taste)

Romanization

magus

1. Romanization of 𐌼𐌰𐌲𐌿𐍃

Etymology

From Ancient Greek μάγος (mágos, “magician”), from Μάγος (Mágos, “Magian”), of an indeterminate Old Iranian origin (see Μάγος (Mágos) for details)

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈma.ɡus/, [ˈma.ɡʊs]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈma.ɡus/, [ˈmaː.ɡus]

Adjective

magus (feminine maga, neuter magum); first/second declension

1. magic, magical

Noun

magus m (genitive magī); second declension

1. (common usage) magician, and derogatorily sorcerer, trickster, conjurer, charlatan, wizard
2. (special usage) a Zoroastrian priest

Note: the two meanings overlap in classical usage— both derive from the Greco-Roman identification of "Zoroaster" as the "inventor" of astrology and magic. The first meaning ('magician') derives from the sense of "practitioner of the Zoroaster's craft", and the second meaning ('priest') from the sense of "practitioner of Zoroaster's religion".

References

• magus in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• magus in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• magus in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
• magus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
• magus in Ramminger, Johann (accessed 16 July 2016) Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎, pre-publication website, 2005-2016
• magus in William Smith, editor (1848) A Dictionary of Greek Biography and Mythology, London: John Murray