Magus
/ˈmeɪ.ɡəs/noun
A member of the ancient Median and Persian priestly caste; later, a magician or sorcerer.
Did you know?The Greek word mágos was borrowed from Old Persian *maguš, a title for a priestly class, and only later did it drift into the meaning “magician,” helping shape English words like magic and magician.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Iranian
PIIr
*maguš
“A member of a priestly or religious class”
Old Persian
OPers
maguš
“A priest or member of the Median/Persian religious caste”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μάγος (mágos)
“A Persian priest; later, a magician or sorcerer”
Latin
Latin
magus
“A Magus, a magician, or a wise man from the East”
Old French
OFrench
magicien
“A magician or sorcerer (from Latin derivatives influenced by magus)”
Modern English
English
magus
“A magician, sorcerer, or one regarded as possessing occult knowledge”